Finite Element Based Investigation of Backfill Effects on Seismic Behavior of a Cantilever Wall

A series of finite element analyses were conducted to investigate the backfill effects on seismic behavior of a cantilever retaining wall incorporating backfill and subsoil interactions. Considering four different backfill soil conditions, the dynamic analyses of backfill-cantilever wall-soil/foundation system were carried out in time domain through ANSYS general purpose finite element computer program. The cohesionless soil was modelled as an elasto-plastic medium with viscous boundary applied on the artificial boundary of soil to simulate the wave energy absorption. Backfill-cantilever wall interface behavior was taken into account by using interface elements between the wall and soil to allow for de-bonding. The magnitudes of lateral displacements and stresses were determined. The obtained results show that the earthquake behavior of cantilever retaining walls can change considerably due to the backfill interaction. Thus, the backfill interaction should be considered in design criteria of cantilever walls.