Finite Element Analysis of Reinforced Earth Retaining Structures: Material Models and Performance Assessment

Finite element (FE) method is a valuable tool for the analysis and design of earth retaining structures. There are no studies available comparing the numerical modelling and analysis using ABAQUS and PLAXIS, two commonly and extensively used FE programs in geotechnical engineering practice. This study compares and highlights the advantages, similarities and dissimilarities in the modelling and analysis of the behaviour of earth retaining structures and slopes using ABAQUS and PLAXIS. The objective is to assess how the results of the analyses using the appropriate in-built utilities available in ABAQUS and PLAXIS compare with each other. The reinforced earth retaining structures considered are the mechanically stabilised earth (MSE), soil nail (SN), MSE/SN and shored MSE walls. The performance of these structures in the form of maximum lateral facing displacement, foundation pressure, connection loads, horizontal and vertical toe loads, maximum reinforcement and nail forces is evaluated and compared. The effect of the choice of constitutive models for the soils on the responses of the retaining structures is also examined by considering two constitutive models, i.e. Mohr–Coulomb (MC) and Hardening Soil models. The results of the present study justify the usage of PLAXIS for the routine modelling and analysis of the reinforced earth retaining structures due to its user-friendly graphical user interface and shorter learning curve. In comparison, the built-in strength reduction method in PLAXIS offers ease in estimating the factor of safety. MC material model is deemed adequate for capturing the responses of typical reinforced earth retaining structures.