Numerical analysis of geocell-reinforced retaining wall failure modes

Abstract Numerical analyses on the failure mode of geocell-reinforced retaining walls by the finite element strength reduction technique are reported. The effectiveness of the numerical model was validated by the centrifuge model test results. Parametric studies were conducted using the calibrated finite element procedure to investigate the effects of the apparent cohesion of geocell-reinforced soil, the friction between the wall base and the footing, the weak interlayer in the wall, and the layout of the two-tiered geocell-reinforced retaining wall on the failure surface and the factor of safety. The study results indicated that when the apparent cohesion was very large, or the friction between the wall and the footing was small, or there existed a weak interlayer in the wall, sliding failure was found to occur in geocell-reinforced retaining walls, similar to the failure mode of rigid retaining walls. Coulomb's wedge theory was suitable for the stability analysis of geocell-reinforced retaining wall in these conditions. However, in other conditions, which are more relevant in engineering applications, the failure mode of geocell-reinforced retaining walls was similar to that of slopes and the strength reduction technique for the stability analysis of slope may be suitable to analyze the stability of geocell-reinforced retaining walls.