Discrete Numerical Modelling of a Cohesive Soil Layer Reinforced by Geosynthetic Sheet Using an Advanced Constitutive Law

The occurrence of a sinkhole in an area may compromise the safety of the existing structures and infrastructures. Therefore preventive solutions are necessary. Recently, a coupled DEM-FEM numerical model has been developed to better account for the failure mode of reinforced soil layers during cavity openings and the interaction between the collapsed soil and the geosynthetic sheet. An experimental campaign on a small scale trapdoor model gave the possibility to validate the numerical model. In that case, a usual linear elasto - perfectly plastic Mohr Coulomb constitutive law and its failure criterion have been chosen to represent the cohesive soil. A good agreement with the experimental results has been observed. To be able to reproduce the behavior of various cohesive materials, an advanced constitutive law has been tested in place of the usual model based on the Mohr Coulomb criterion.