| Abstract: | The results of a numerical study on the influence of a number of structural design parameters on the fundamental frequency of reinforced-soil retaining wall models are presented and discussed. The design parameters in the study include the wall height, backfill width, reinforcement stiffness, reinforcement length, backfill friction angle and toe restraint condition. The intensity of ground motion, characterized by peak ground acceleration, is also included in the study as an additional parameter. The study shows that the fundamental frequency of reinforced-soil wall models with sufficiently wide backfill subjected to moderately strong vibrations can be estimated with reasonable accuracy from a few available formulae based on linear elastic wave theory using the shear wave speed in the backfill and the wall height. Numerical analyses showed no significant influence of the reinforcement stiffness, reinforcement length or toe restraint condition on the fundamental frequency of wall models. The strength of the granular backfill, characterized by its friction angle, also did not show any observable effect on the fundamental frequency of the reinforced-soil retaining wall. However, the resonance frequencies of wall models were dependent on the ground motion intensity and to a lesser extent, on the width to height ratio of the backfill. |
