Finite element study of a geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining wall with concrete-block facing

This paper focuses on the results of finite element modeling of a full-scale, concrete-block, geosynthetic-reinforced soil retaining wall constructed at the Public Works Research Institute in Japan. A nonlinear hyperbolic geosynthetic model was incorporated into a computer program that is capable of simulating soil-structure interaction behavior. The soil was simulated using a hyperbolic model while the block-block and soil-block interactions were simulated using interface elements. Comparison of numerical and measured experimental results indicated that the finite element model is capable of simulating the construction behavior of concrete-block geosynthetic-reinforced soil structures.