Parametric Studies on the Behaviour of Reinforced Soil Retaining

mechanics, are used in the analysis of reinforced soils. Interface elements can be
classified (Gens et al., 1989) into the following categories:
a. Standard finite elements of small thickness
b. Quasi-continuum elements possessing a weakness plane in the direction of the
interface
c. Linkage elements in which only the connections between opposite nodes are
considered
d. Interface elements in which relative displacement between opposite nodes are the
primary deformation variables. They can have finite or zero thickness.
Several differences exist among these methods and the main argument concerns the
physical existence of shearing band of soil around reinforcement. FEM methods are
based on continuity of soils except the contact plane between soils and reinforcing
materials. Goodman element (1968) originally introduced interface element concept
in the geotechnical contact problems. This type of interface element is extensively
used in the reinforced soil problems. A typical interface element is illustrated in
Figure 2.17 below.
Figure 2.17: A Typical Interface Element used in the Modelling of the Soil-Reinforcement Interfaces (Goodman
et al., 1968)
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