A parametric study on the behaviour of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall using finite element method

Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls offer simple construction techniques, pleasing aesthetics, and cost-effective solutions as an alternative to conventional gravity walls.This dissertation presents the analysis of reinforced soil retaining walls were carried out to review the engineering properties of the MSE wall and perform parametric studies various factors that may govern the behaviour of the MSE wall by using finite element program PLAXIS 2D. The geometric parameters such as reinforcement length, vertical spacing between the reinforcement layers, reinforcement stiffness, wall height, face element thickness, position of traffic load, and finally the type of reinforced soil were examined to investigate their effects on the forces developed in the reinforcement and the wall deformation. It is shown that the forces developed are largely independent of reinforcement length, reinforcement stiffness, and face element thikness. Generally, axial force increases with increasing the wall height, vertical spacing between the geogrid layers, and angle of internal friction for backfill soil. While, wall deformation are largely dependent on geogrid length and an acceptable resultes were obtained when using L/H equal to 0.7. Wall deformation also decreasing with increasing geogrid stiffness and therfore geogrid with higher strength is recomended to be used. Beside, the vertical spacing (Sv) between geogrid layers which also affect on the horizontal deformation and the minimum value can be used in the design of MSE walls equal to 0.5 m.