The stabilization of slopes by the technique of reinforced earth (Terre Armée) is a very economical and reliable technique. We propose in this paper to check the overall internal stability of the reinforced earth retaining walls by three mechanical models, using the analytical method of the limit equilibrium (failure). The main objective of this paper is to compare these failure mechanical models with the failure models obtained by numerical analysis (code FLAC 2D), in order to validate the most realistic and more unfavourable failure models. Parametric and comparative studies carried out have allowed us to bring a very useful knowledge concerning the study of the internal stability of the reinforced earth retaining walls. It also proposed a theoretical mechanical model of calculation proved by numerical simulation.

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Two theoretical models very simple in calculation of active earth pressure of prism of three-dimensional rupture mobilised behind pile or screen in translation, were proposed. Improvements were done in order to pass from one to another, by the introduction of frustum of cone, which permits to obtain forms of prism of rupture more near to the reality. Basing on Kinematics Theorem of Drucker and Prager of limit analysis theory, there models give, in this way, two boundary-stones or superiors limits of this active earth pressure according to real value of this last. This is effectively well verified on experimental trials realized.