As a new light-retaining structure

the reinforced earth retaining wall has been widely used in roads

railways and ports. And with the rapid development of the technology of reinforced earth retaining wall

the types of facing are also more and more abundant. A two-dimensional (2D) finite element analysis is conducted to simulate a reinforced earth retaining wall for embankment by using the finite element software Plaxis. To investigate the influence of different facing types on the mechanical behavior of the reinforced earth retaining wall for embankment

the calculated results of reinforced earth retaining wall with three facing types (wrapped facing

overall facing and assembled facing) are analyzed

including the lateral earth pressure

the vertical earth pressure

the lateral deformation of retaining wall

the strain of reinforcement

and the factor of stability. It is found that the numerical results of vertical and lateral earth pressures are less than theoretical results. The reinforced earth retaining wall with the wrapped facing has a larger strain than those with the other two facing types. Furthermore

the three facing types have little influence on the overall stability of reinforced earth retaining wall. These results provide theoretical guidance for engineering application.