The role of non-linear deformation analyses in the design of a reinforced soil berm at Red River U-frame lock No. 1

Abstract

SUMMARYThis paper describes a design application of non-linear deformation analysis to a complex soil-structure-foundation interaction problem through use of a finite element analysis. The problem consists of a proposed renovation to an existing soil-founded U-frame lock structure consisting of construction of a densely reinforced soil berm adjacent to an existing lock wall. Major questions facing the designer involve reduction of the earth pressure on the lock wall, layout of the reinforcing in the soil berm, and collateral effects of berm construction on the U-frame lock structure. A non-linear deformation analysis played a central role in addressing all of these questions. Berm construction and four operational load cases were used to understand the performance of the reinforced berm and to discern interactions among the lock, the backfill, the foundation strata of the U-frame lock, the reinforced berm, and the foundation strata of the reinforced berm. Insight gained from the soil-structure-foundation interaction analyses led to an alteration to the proposed reinforcement layout to enhance the performance of the reinforced soil berm.

Nonlinear elastic model for compacted clay concrete interface

“…A hyperbolic function was suggested to represent the stress-strain curves by Konder [17] and developed by Duncan [18] to depict the relationship between stress and strain. This model was applied to different soils such as silt soil by Stark et al [19], the earth pressure of compacted soil by Duncan et al [16] and Seed et al [20], reinforced soil by Ebeling et al [21], and the vertical shear load on nonmoving walls by Filz et al [22,23]. Zhou et al [24] developed a hyperbolic model to take into account the degree of roughness for the sand steel interface under a relatively high load.…”

Numerical Methods to Model Excavation of Soil Adjacent to Retaining Structures

“…In the case of backfilling, an important effect is the generation of downdrag or vertical shear force exerted by the backfill on the structure, as referred to in Section 1.2. As noted above, downdrag effects have been reported in earlier studies by Ebeling, Duncan, and Clough (1990);Ebeling et al (1993);Ebeling and Mosher (1996);Ebeling and Wahl (1977);and Ebeling, Peters, and Mosher (1997). The main purpose of interface elements is to be able to permit slippage between the soil and the structure during construction and also during subsequent loading of the structure.…”

“…Ebeling et al (1993), Ebeling and Mosher (1996), and Ebeling, Peters, and Mosher (1997) presented the results of extensive SSI analysis for the soilfounded Red River Lock and Dam No. 1.…”

“…These studies have included SSI analyses of the Red River Lock and Dam No.l (Ebeling et al 1993;Ebeling and Mosher 1996;Ebeling, Peters, and Mosher 1997), the North Lock Wall at McAlpine Locks (Ebeling and Wahl 1997), and Locks 27 (Ebeling, Pace, and Morrison 1997). These are good examples of state-of-the-art techniques available for SSI analyses.…”

A genetic-based model to predict maximum lateral displacement of retaining wall in granular soil

“…Using an explicit nite di erence code, Benmebarek et al [6] investigated the increase in the passive earth pressures due to the decrease in the wall breadth in a 3D model. Ebeling et al [7] and Ebeling et al [8] presented the results of extensive SSI analysis for the soil founded Red River Lock and Dam No. 1.…”