Abstract:
This paper presents the finite element analysis of a geosynthetic reinforced soil wall as a bridge abutment built in Tehran, and the predictions are compared with the available field measurements. This abutment is analysed using both Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) for stability analysis and Finite Element Method (FEM) for deformation analysis. Two dimensional plane strain finite element model is adopted for the simulation. Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) geogrid with high tensile moduli and low creep characteristics has been adopted in this project to limit the deformation of the bridge abutment. In this model, the backfill soil and geogrids simulated adopting Mohr-Coulomb model, and the elasto-plastic material model that only works in tension, respectively. Bridge abutments can be stabilised by including geosynthetic layers with high tensile moduli satisfying both stability and deformation criteria reducing the construction cost and time, post construction deformations, and future maintenance cost.
