The Investigation On Stability And Mechanism Of Soil Retaining Wall Reinforced With H-V Inclusions Under Static Loads

Horizontal-Vertical (H-V) reinforcing element is a new type of 3D reinforcements. The effect of H-V reinforcement has been proved through triaxial test, pull-out test and plain strain test. According to the multi-scale tests system, laboratory model tests, particle flow code (PFC) numerical simulations and theoretical analysis were used to investigate the stability and mechanism of soil retaining wall reinforced with H-V inclusions under static loads in this dissertation. The main work is as follows:A series of laboratory model tests were carried out on soil retaining wall reinforced with H-V inclusions under static loads. It is proved that H-V inclusions can increase the bearing capability of retaining wall significantly and restrict the facing displacements efficiently. The vertical elements and horizontal inclusions make a joint-contribution to the mechanism of reinforced soil retaining wall. The vertical elements have a certain effect on the bearing capability of soil retaining wall reinforced with H-V inclusions. The distribution of lateral earth pressures acted on vertical elements depends on its locations and it is quite different in active zone and resistant one. Meanwhile, the failure process of soil retaining wall reinforced with H-V inclusions is progressive and mainly belongs to adhesion failure. The potential failure surface nearly shapes in arc, which means the improvement of reinforcing effect compared with traditional failure surfaces.The mechanics model of soil retaining wall reinforced with H-V inclusions had been set up by PFC. The facing displacements and lateral earth pressures acted on vertical elements from PFC numerical simulations were compared with results of model tests. Meanwhile, the failure surface of soil retaining wall reinforced with H-V inclusions was investigated by the displacement and stress field of PFC ball units.Based on the results of laboratory model tests and PFC numerical simulations, the stability of soil retaining wall reinforced with H-V inclusions under static loads was studied by the limit equilibrium theory. According to the failure arc and traditional failure surfaces, new equations had been deduced for the bearing capability of soil retaining wall reinforced with H-V inclusions, in which the horizontal and vertical reinforcing element were main sensitivity parameters and the joint-contribution of H-V inclusions was embodied. The results of bearing calculations were compared with model tests to prove the above conclusions.