Inextensible reinforcement on non‐linear elasto‐plastic subgrade under oblique pull

In this paper, a rational analysis of pullout resistance of inextensible sheet reinforcement subjected to oblique end force has been presented considering a non‐linear (hyperbolic), elasto‐plastic, normal stress–displacement relationship of the subgrade. Under an oblique pull, high normal stresses develop on stronger subgrades, thus mobilizing high shearing resistance at the reinforcement–soil interface. The higher the bearing resistance of the subgrade, the higher the horizontal component of pullout force and the lower the end displacement of the reinforcement. On the other hand, the end displacement at pullout can become very high for weaker subgrades especially at high values of the angle of obliquity. Also, the pullout capacity under oblique loading for weaker subgrades may approach or even fall below the axial pullout capacity at high values of the angle of obliquity. These adverse pullout responses owing to a low value of bearing resistance of subgrade are magnified when the subgrade stiffness is also small. On weaker subgrades, improvement in angle of interface shear is not advisable as this leads to further reduction in the pullout force and increase in the end displacement. Results are compared with back analysis of published test data on model reinforced soil walls. The comparison suggests that the present model leads to a more rational and better prediction of the pullout failure. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.