ABSTRACT
The paper presents, with the aid of a simplified model of analysis, the value of confining force. Permanent, variable and accidental actions in two loading cases are considered. The degree of confining is defined by the ratio between confining force and structure self-weight. It depends by the two geometrical characteristics of soil structures: aspect ratio and slope inclination. The result of analysis shows the advantage of confining the reinforced soil structures especially when seismic actions occur. However the suggested method has its own structural limitations.
