Abstract:

Based on the secondary development of ABAQUS by the object-oriented program language Python, the finite element method (FEM) with Hill’s stability condition is applied to analyze the bearing capacity of strip anchor in cemented calcareous soils; and the potentially instable regions in the soil are studied accordingly. When the local second order work is negative, some locally instable regions appear in soils; while the global second order work is negative, the system reaches limit state and becomes potentially instable. The limit bearing capacities predicted by the FEM with Hill’s stability condition are close to the theoretical solution. The FEM with Hill’s stability condition can also fairly simulate the potentially instable regions in soils. In general, the FEM with Hill’s stability condition, which has a clear mechanical background, is a convenient method to apply and deserves further study.

Key words: strip anchor, limit bearing capacity, secondary development, Hill’s stability condition, second order work, finite element method