Journal of the Korean Geo-Environmental Society ISSN:1598-0820(Print) 2714-1233(Online) 한국지반환경공학회 논문집

Nonlinear dynamic analysis is performed to calculate the response of U-shaped cantilever retaining structure under seismic loading using the finite element (FE) analysis program OpenSees. A particular interest of the study is to evaluate whether the moment demand in the cantilever can be accurately predicted, because it is an important component in the seismic design. The numerical model is validated against a centrifuge test that was performed on cantilever walls with dry medium dense sand in backfill. Seismic analysis is performed using the pressure-dependent, multi-yield-surface, plasticity based soil constitutive model implemented in OpenSees. Normal springs are used to simulate the soil-structure interface. Comparison with centrifuge show that FE analysis provides good estimates of both the acceleration response and bending moment. The lateral earth pressure near the bottom of the wall is overestimated in the numerical model, but this does not contribute to a higher prediction of the moment.