Deformation‐Based Model for Reinforced Sand

Abstract

A closed‐form solution for determining the development of tension in soil reinforcements is incorporated in a rigid‐plastic soil model. The model accounts for the plastic work to deform the soil and the elastic work to deform the reinforcements in tension and bending. The model is used to evaluate experimental results obtained in large‐scale direct‐shear tests. The results show that the mobilization of tension in the reinforcements is a function of the reinforcement properties and the deformation characteristics of the reinforced soil. The reinforcement properties affect the width of the shear zone and the increase in the strength of the reinforced soil is not linearly proportional to the reinforcement concentration. The contribution of reinforcement tensile stresses to the increased strength of the reinforced soil is as much as one order of magnitude greater than the bending stresses. Thus, the use of limit equilibrium methods for analysis of reinforced structures, ignoring the bending moment contribution, is recommended.