Mechanical behaviour of reinforced earth retaining walls

Stabilization of the slopes by the technique of reinforced earth (Terre Armee) is a very concurrent technique (economical and reliable). Based on the results of theoretical and experimental studies, we propose in this paper to check the overall internal stability of reinforced earth retaining walls by three mechanical models using the analytical method of the limit equilibrium (failure). The main objective of this paper is to compare these failure mechanical models with the failure models obtained by numerical analysis (code FLAC(2d)), in order to validate the most realistic and more unfavourable failure models. Parametric and comparative studies carried out have allowed us to bring a very useful knowledge concerning the study of internal stability of the reinforced earth retaining walls and to propose a theoretical mechanical model of calculation proven by numerical simulation and confirmed by tests.