A simplified two-phase macroscopic model for reinforced soils

Abstract

This paper presents the formulation of a macroscopic model for reinforced soil structures in which the interface is taken into consideration as a rigid-plastic contact. The model is formulated in the framework of a so-called multiphase model recently introduced for reinforced soil masses. The proposed simplified two-phase model can be considered as an optimal solution between extremely simplified perfect bonding model on one hand, and using a third phase for the interface on the other hand, which results in a more complicated and time-consuming model. The introduced platform is implemented in a numerical code. The proposed model is evaluated by simulating (a) the failure of laboratorial plane strain compression tests; (b) the behavior of a 1-g reinforced soil retaining wall model under external loading, and (c) the deformation of a reinforced soil structure under its own weight, which has been analyzed by another homogenization approach including elastoplastic interface model. The results indicate that the deformation of reinforced soil structures can be satisfactorily predicted by the proposed model.