Plastic limit analysis of earthbag structures

The results of the tests carried out to determine the ultimate strength of earthbag arches were examined. The complex and variable materials that make up an earthbag structure, and the way in which they are arranged, make their behavior highly non-linear and hence very difficult to model accurately. A series of tests was carried out to determine material properties of the constituent elements such as friction angle of the bag fill material, tensile strength of the bag material, friction coefficient between two bags and compressive strength of earthbag stacks were all measured. The behavior of the plain arch could be loosely characterized into three distinct modes, which occur as the test progresses including linear response, large deformation and sliding. The stabilized arch exhibited the most distinct behavior. The initial stiffness of the stabilized arch was much higher, and a significantly higher peak load was achieved.