Numerical Investigation of Soil–Structure Interaction Behaviour of Landslide Prevention Piles

Abstract

Landslides as a natural erosional process modify the existing topography and landscape and also cause immense damages to manmade structures, road profiles, destruction to the natural ecosystem causing loss of life. The hazards associated with the landslides can be minimized through land restrictions in areas of frequent landslides, establishing slope failure warning system before the onset of monsoons, changing slope geometry, chemical reinforcing of slope material, grouting rock joints and fissures, changing and redirecting debris flow or installing structures such as piles and retaining walls. From these techniques, construction of sheet pile retaining wall provides an effective solution when the ground is neither too fine, plastic nor too dry with shallow sliding mass. But it requires an accurate assessment of the forces that demands the necessity of detailed investigation of the sheet pile wall soil–structure interaction mechanism. So, the present work involves a detailed numerical simulation of construction stages of sheet pile retaining wall in layered infill medium (sand and clay) using ADONIS software. The analysis involves calculations of horizontal displacement, interface normal stress, tieback axial force as well as sheet pile moment force near the region of plastic zones. From the results, it is concluded that horizontal displacement and bending moment developed at the base of retaining wall are reduced with a proper selection and optimum spacing of tieback elements.