The interaction mechanism and behavior of hexagonal wire mesh reinforced embankment with silty sand backfill on soft clay

The pullout/direct shear mechanisms as well as the behavior of hexagonal wire mesh reinforced embankment with silty sand backfill had been investigated by numerical method. Finite element method under plane strain condition using SAGE CRISP software has been utilized in the numerical simulations. For the numerical simulation of full-scale reinforced wall, the reinforcement stiffness, backfill soil properties, soil/reinforcement interaction, properties of soft clay foundation, and consolidation period were significantly considered in the analysis. The equivalent interaction coefficients of the interface element were used in the simulations for the pullout and direct shear modes. The results have been favorably compared with the previous simulation using PLAXIS FEM software. The numerical technique has reasonably captured the actual behavior of the reinforced embankment on soft foundation. Most of the interaction mode obtained from the simulation is governed by the direct shear mechanism. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.