Numerical Analysis of Geosynthetic Reinforced Walls

In this study, stability of geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining walls investigated using PLAXIS code that is based on finite element method. The effects of axial stiffness, length and vertical space between geosynthetic layers, internal friction angle of soil wall and cohesion of foundation on deformations of wall and maximum axial force of geosynthetic have been investigated. Results of analyses indicated that horizontal displacements and settlements of wall reduce with increase in axial stiffness, length and decrease of vertical space between reinforcement layers but there is a critical value for axial stiffness, length and number of geosynthetic layers which increase more than this certain value has not significant effect on reduction of settlements and horizontal displacements of wall. Also vertical and horizontal deformations of wall reduce with increase in internal friction angle of soil wall and cohesion of foundation but effect of these two factors on reduction of deformations for values more than a critical value are almost constant.