Finite Element Analysis of a Buried Arch Construction
Objective
MSC Australia carried out an analysis for the Reinforced Earth Company to investigate the behaviour of a buried arch system.
Summary
TechSpan™ structures have been erected in many countries for highways, railroads and a range of other uses replacing culverts and bridges.
The 3D FE model was prepared in Patran and the analysis was conducted by a non-linear FE solver.
The following modelling techniques were utilised in the analysis:
Staged construction;
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Contact interaction between backfill and arches;
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Contact interaction between individual arches;
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Backfill stiffness as a function of mean stress;
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Mohr-Coulomb soil model;
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Initialisation of geostatic stresses in foundation prior to arch construction;
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Modelling of hinges.
The 3D finite element model has been validated by comparing the computed arch deflections with field measurement.
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