Three-Dimensional Analysis of Geogrid-Reinforced Soil Using a Finite-Discrete Element Framework

Three-dimensional analysis of soil-structure interaction problems considering the response at the particle scale level is a challenging numerical modeling problem. An efficient framework that takes advantage of both the finite-and discrete-element approaches to investigate soil-geogrid interactions is described in this paper. The method uses finite elements to model the structural components and discrete particles to model the surrounding soil to reflect the discontinuous nature of the granular material. The coupled framework is used in this study to investigate two geotechnical engineering problems, namely, strip footing over geogrid-reinforced sand and geogrid-reinforced fill over a strong formation containing void. The numerical model is first validated using experimental data and then used to provide new insights into the nature of the three-dimensional interaction between the soil and the geogrid layer. (C) 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.