Enhancement of Design Methodologies of Anchored Mesh Systems Using the Discrete Element Method

The understanding of the mechanical behavior of anchored mesh systems for slope stabilization represents a challenging task for engineers. Standard laboratory tests are in general not representative of the in-situ conditions. Moreover, the complex interaction between the mesh and the retained material is not trivial to reproduce numerically. In this study a simplified in-situ condition is analyzed using the discrete element method (DEM). Starting from the tensile stress-strain relationships acting on each wire it is possible to determine the force sustained by the mesh system and to derive the displacement field of the mesh panel. Therefore, the progressive activation of the mesh retaining capacity, during the loading of these structures can be obtained providing the evolution of the mechanical response of the system. The information obtained with the discrete element simulation highlights the possible improvements of the classical design methodologies and shows the potential of the presented approach for the comprehension of the mechanical behavior of anchored mesh systems.