Numerical analysis of preloading and prestressing effects on the behaviour of scaled mechanically stabilized earth walls

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper experimentally investigates the prestressing effect of repeated strip footing loading on scaled reinforced earth walls and compares the results with numerical, analytical, and particle image velocimetry (PIV) analyses. Two wall configurations with full-height rigid and flexible facings and three reinforcement types were examined to evaluate soil–reinforcement interaction under repeated loading. Maximum reinforcement tensile forces and wall deflections were compared during the initial loading and subsequent reloading stages. Under the same footing load, wall deflection and footing settlement during reloading were approximately 50% lower than those measured during the initial loading stage. This improvement is attributed to a prestressing effect developed in the reinforcement, particularly near the wall facing. Numerical and analytical predictions showed good agreement with the experimental measurements of tensile forces and wall deformations. Larger discrepancies were observed for non-woven geotextile reinforcement because of its nonlinear response, which was further investigated using PIV analysis.