Finite element analysis of a reinforced soil

Reinforced soil is used in various geotechnical engineering structures such as retaining walls, foundations, embankments and pavements. Stress-strain and volume change behaviour thus depends on the ,stress path followed in the field conditions. Due to different loading conditions, it is essential to develop appropriate constitutive model to predict the behaviour of reinforced soil based on laboratory or field tests. In the present paper, finite element analysis of a non-woven geotextile reinforced soil is presented. The analysis has been made using hierarchical model developed by Desai and his co-workers based on the theory of elasto-viscoplasticity. Verification of the model has been made with the laboratory triaxial tests conducted on geotextile reinforced Ennore sand using various stress paths.