Performance Analysis of Shored Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls with Wrapped Facing Using Numerical Simulations

Although mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls typically require a reinforcement length-to-wall-height ratio of 0.7, the use of short reinforcement may be inevitable in certain situations, such as building MSE walls in mountainous areas, widening existing highways, or restoring eroded roadways. Intuitively, connecting the rear end of reinforcement in shored mechanically stabilized earth (SMSE) walls to the stable face behind can compensate for insufficient reinforcement anchorage length. However, the effectiveness of this approach remains debatable in the existing literature. This study aims to provide more complementary data and insight into the behavior of SMSE walls at a working stress state. A finite difference numerical model was first validated using measurements from centrifuge and full-scale tests. Then, a parametric study was conducted to evaluate the effects of wall geometry, reinforcement parameters, and backfill properties on the lateral facing displacement and maximum reinforcement tensile loads of SMSE walls. The numerical simulations show that, while connected conditions certainly improve the stability of the SMSE wall at the limit state, they may, counterintuitively, worsen the performance of the wall and increase the maximum reinforcement loads at working stress conditions, presenting a design dilemma. The reasons for the results obtained are discussed in detail, and optimized approaches are proposed to improve the performance of SMSE walls.