Numerical Study of Soil-Retaining Wall Behavior Subject to Machine Foundations Loads

Abstract

A retaining wall was practically developed to provide lateral support for soil, and it is widely used in underground projects, highway barriers, and mines as well as for aesthetic considerations and slope stabilization. This type of earth structure member can carry machine foundation load simultaneously with traditional static load. This study carried out using the finite element program PLAXIS 3D. The linear elastic model for retaining walls and the Mohr-Coulomb model for soil layers were used in this numerical analysis. The study included three layers of soils under the wall with dry condition. The high of the wall was 4m and the dimensions of machine foundation were 3x3m. It can be concluded that the vertical settlement, horizontal displacement and velocity increased when the duration of the machine load increases. Usually, the horizontal displacement increases to highest value and reached to 10 times the original static value when the machine was closed to the wall with 0.5m and 75Hz. This can be taken into account in the design for such geotechnical system in the design stages.