This paper provides an interpretation of the behaviour of retaining structures made of geosyntheticreinforced earth, subjected to a severe seismic loading. It is seen that during strong ground motion the main source of energy dissipation derives from the transient activation of plastic mechanisms within the soil mass: these mechanisms can be global, local, or a combination of the two. Using numerical pseudo-static analyses and limit analysis methods it is shown that three retaining structures having a similar overall seismic resistance, expressed by their critical seismic coefficient, activate different – global, local, or combined – plastic mechanisms. The seismic performance of the different retaining structures is then evaluated through a series of dynamic analyses in which acceleration–time histories are imposed to the bottom boundary of the same numerical models used for the pseudo-static analyses. The results of the dynamic analyses are interpreted in the light of the plastic mechanisms evaluated with the pseudo-static procedure. They show that for the reinforced-earth structures there is always a local contribution to the dissipation of energy during strong motion, evidenced by the attainment of the available strength in different portions of the soil-reinforcement system, and that this energy dissipation has a substantial influence on the seismic performance of the system. These results extend the current understanding on the seismic behaviour of reinforced-earth retaining structures and can be used to provide some guidance for design.

An interpretation of the seismic behaviour of reinforced-earth retaining structures / Masini, Luca; Callisto, Luigi; Rampello, Sebastiano. - In: GEOTECHNIQUE. - ISSN 0016-8505. - STAMPA. - 65:5(2015), pp. 349-358. [10.1680/geot.SIP.15.P.001]

An interpretation of the seismic behaviour of reinforced-earth retaining structures

MASINI, LUCA;CALLISTO, Luigi;RAMPELLO, SEBASTIANO
2015

Abstract

This paper provides an interpretation of the behaviour of retaining structures made of geosyntheticreinforced earth, subjected to a severe seismic loading. It is seen that during strong ground motion the main source of energy dissipation derives from the transient activation of plastic mechanisms within the soil mass: these mechanisms can be global, local, or a combination of the two. Using numerical pseudo-static analyses and limit analysis methods it is shown that three retaining structures having a similar overall seismic resistance, expressed by their critical seismic coefficient, activate different – global, local, or combined – plastic mechanisms. The seismic performance of the different retaining structures is then evaluated through a series of dynamic analyses in which acceleration–time histories are imposed to the bottom boundary of the same numerical models used for the pseudo-static analyses. The results of the dynamic analyses are interpreted in the light of the plastic mechanisms evaluated with the pseudo-static procedure. They show that for the reinforced-earth structures there is always a local contribution to the dissipation of energy during strong motion, evidenced by the attainment of the available strength in different portions of the soil-reinforcement system, and that this energy dissipation has a substantial influence on the seismic performance of the system. These results extend the current understanding on the seismic behaviour of reinforced-earth retaining structures and can be used to provide some guidance for design.
2015
design; earthquakes; reinforced soils
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
An interpretation of the seismic behaviour of reinforced-earth retaining structures / Masini, Luca; Callisto, Luigi; Rampello, Sebastiano. - In: GEOTECHNIQUE. - ISSN 0016-8505. - STAMPA. - 65:5(2015), pp. 349-358. [10.1680/geot.SIP.15.P.001]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Masini_interpretation_2015.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Note: Articolo principale
Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 404.53 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
404.53 kB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore
Masini_Interpretation_2015_Symposium.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 724.34 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
724.34 kB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/783109
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 23
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 22
social impact