Numerical Analysis of Effect of Width and Location of Surcharge Load on the Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Walls

Abstract

The geosynthetic reinforced soil techniques have emerged as exciting engineering techniques mainly due to their cost effectiveness, technical simplicity and ease of construction. They are considered superior as compared to other alternatives in the context of their stability even under seismic conditions. This paper aims at understanding the effects of the width and location of surcharge loads on the performance of the geosynthetic reinforced soil walls. The numerical simulations of a geosynthetic reinforced soil wall is analyzed using the finite element software PLAXIS 2D. A very fine mesh was used with water table at great depth for the analysis. A multi-stage construction was simulated and plastic analysis was carried out. Different combinations of surcharge are applied and the stresses developed in the soil, displacements at the top, middle, and toe of the wall and maximum strains developed in the wall for the different surcharge combinations were plotted and analyzed.