Two-dimensional soil arching evolution in geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments over voids

Soil arching and tensioned membrane effects are two main load transfer mechanisms for geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported (GRPS) embankments over soft soils or voids. Evidences show that the tensioned membrane effect interacts with the soil arching effect. To investigate the soil arching evolution under different geosynthetic reinforcement stiffness and embankment height, a series of discrete element method (DEM) simulations of GRPS embankments were carried out based on physical model tests. The results indicate that the deformation pattern in the GRPS embankments changed from a concentric ellipse arch pattern to an equal settlement pattern with the increase of the embankment height. High stiffness geosynthetic hindered the development of soil arching and required more subsoil settlement to enable the development of maximum soil arching. However, soil arching in the GRPS embankments with low stiffness reinforcement degraded after reaching maximum soil arching. Appropriate stiffness reinforcement ensured the development and stability of maximum soil arching. According to the stress states on the pile top, a concentric ellipse soil arch model is proposed in this paper to describe the soil arching behavior in the GRPS embankments over voids. The predicted heights of soil arches and load efficacies on the piles agreed well with the DEM simulations and the test results from the literature.     

Geosynthetic-reinforced soils above voids: Observation and prediction of soil arching

The assumption with the biggest impact on the design of geosynthetic-reinforced soils above voids is the presence and degree of soil arching, which affects the predicted applied stress on the geosynthetic. A series of centrifuge tests were conducted to investigate the soil arching in geosynthetic-reinforced soils with measurements of the soil stresses and observation of soil and geosynthetic deformation used to infer the arching behaviour. Detailed analysis of the results showed that arching significantly reduces the stress at the base of the soil when a void forms; this mechanism is due to stress redistributions and not the formation of a physical arch as suggested in some models. A new method to reliably predict this reduction is proposed by calculating the coefficient of lateral stress on vertical failure planes based on the observations of a continuous convex arc of major principal strains above the void, and the assumption that this is indicative of the stress behaviour.     

Reinforcement load in geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported model embankments

The stress conditions of geosynthetic reinforcements (GRs) are crucial in achieving the accurate serviceability design of geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported (GRPS) embankments. However, the sensitivity of load distribution to the settlement process has been reported in geosynthetic-reinforced embankment overlying cavities. In this study, a three-dimensional model embankment was used to perform experiments and evaluate the load acting on the GR. A flexible pressure-mapping sensor was introduced to investigate the pressure distribution for two types of supporting conditions: partitioned displacement by multiple movable trapdoors and even trapdoor settlement underneath different subsoil materials. The results showed that the load on the GR was concentrated on the strip areas between adjacent pile heads along with the settlement. The measured load on the GR strip area was related to the settlement process and finally exhibited a U-shaped distribution after detachment from the support underneath. The soil arch height in the subgrade continuously increased with the settlement; meanwhile, the pile head load increased rapidly at first and then decreased slightly or remained stable depending on the foundation support stiffness. For both types of settlement behaviours, soil arching exhibited stress history-related characteristics that influence the load transfer in GRPS embankments.     

A closed-form solution for column-supported embankments with geosynthetic reinforcement

Soil arching effect results from the non-uniform stiffness in a geosynthetic-reinforced and column-supported embankment system. However, most theoretical models ignore the impact of modulus difference on the calculation of load transfer. In this study, a generalized mathematical model is presented to investigate the soil arching effect, with consideration given to the modulus ratio between columns and the surrounding soil. For simplification, a cylindrical unit cell is drawn to study the deformation compatibility among embankment fills, geosynthetics, columns, and subsoils. A deformed shape function is introduced to describe the relationship between the column and the adjacent soil. The measured data gained from a full-scale test are applied to demonstrate the application of this model. In the parametric study, certain influencing factors, such as column spacing, column length, embankment height, modulus ratio, and tensile strength of geosynthetic reinforcement, are analyzed to investigate the performance of the embankment system. This demonstrates that the inclusion of a geosynthetic reinforcement or enlargement of the modulus ratio can increase the load transfer efficiency. When enhancing the embankment height or applying an additional loading, the height of the load transfer platform tends to be reduced. However, a relatively long column has little impact on the load transfer platform.     

考虑桩间水平土拱效应的边坡桩间墙组合结构受力计算方法

抗滑桩桩间水平土拱效应目前主要用于确定桩间距,在桩间组合结构的受力计算中应用较少。如桩间墙,设计者多按设桩处的剩余下滑力计算桩上荷载,采取将土压力或剩余下滑力折减,或将土体参数提高的方法估算墙上荷载,未充分考虑桩间水平土拱的影响。首先理论分析了桩间水平土拱对桩间墙组合结构受力的影响,认为在桩间水平土拱影响下,抗滑桩的受力应为土拱拱顶处的剩余下滑力;挡土墙的受力应为拱前土体产生的主动土压力或剩余下滑力。在此基础上,推导了考虑土拱效应时该组合结构中抗滑桩和挡土墙的受力计算方法。以某实际铁路堑坡为例,通过计算考虑桩间水平土拱效应的桩间墙受力分配,说明了桩间水平土拱效应对桩间墙组合结构受力的影响。     

Geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments with caps in a triangular pattern over soft clay

Given the limit studies on the behavior of GRPS embankments with different numbers of geosynthetic layers and pile caps in a triangular pattern, this paper conducted a series of three-dimensional (3-D) numerical analyses. The numerical model was verified based on a well-instrumented large-scale test. A 3-D soil arch model was proposed for pile caps in a triangular pattern, in which the crown of the upper boundary was approximately 1.4 times the clear spacing of pile caps. Inclusion of geosynthetic reinforcement reduced the soil arching effect but increased the total load carried by the piles. For the case with three geosynthetic layers, the lower layer had a significant effect on load transfer than the middle and upper layers, but each layer had an almost proportional effect on mitigating the differential settlement on the top of the gravel cushion. The maximum strains in the reinforcement concentrated on the geosynthetic strips bridging over two adjacent square cap corners.     

盾构埋深对软土土拱效应影响分析

软土盾构深埋隧道竖向荷载的选取直接关系到工程的经济性与安全性。在软土地层的盾构隧道设计是否需要考虑土拱效应,关系到盾构设计的荷载取值。从应力场变化和不均匀变形的角度,分析土压力拱的作用机理,得到管-土刚度埋深对"土拱效应"的影响。软土中盾构隧道埋深越大,拱效应发挥越充分,但土拱效应比例值与埋深并非线性关系。盾构在软土2倍直径埋深及以下深部地层中开挖,土拱效应开始发挥作用。当埋深达4D时,拱效应发挥至23%。埋深范围与软土拱效应比例的对应,对软土隧道竖向荷载的取值有一定指导意义,可为后期软土不同埋深的盾构设计提供依据。     

3D numerical study of the performance of geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported embankments

Geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported (GRPS) systems provide an economic and effective solution for embankments. The load transfer mechanisms are tridimensional ones and depend on the interaction between linked elements, such as piles, soil, and geosynthetics. This paper presents an extensive parametric study using three-dimensional numerical calculations for geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported embankments. The numerical analysis is conducted for both cohesive and non-cohesive embankment soils to emphasize the fill soil cohesion effect on the load and settlement efficacy of GRPS embankments. The influence of the embankment height, soft ground elastic modulus, improvement area ratio, geosynthetic tensile stiffness and fill soil properties are also investigated on the arching efficacy, GR membrane efficacy, differential settlement, geosynthetic tension, and settlement reduction performance. The numerical results indicated that the GRPS system shows a good performance for reducing the embankment settlements. The ratio of the embankment height to the pile spacing, subsoil stiffness, and fill soil properties are the most important design parameters to be considered in a GRPS design. The results also suggested that the fill soil cohesion strengthens the soil arching effect, and increases the loading efficacy. However, the soil arching mobilization is not necessarily at the peak state but could be reached at the critical state. Finally, the geosynthetic strains are not uniform along the geosynthetic, and the maximum geosynthetic strain occurs at the pile edge. The geosynthetic deformed shape is a curve that is closer to a circular shape than a parabolic one.     

平卧“支撑拱”锁固滑坡动力学机理与稳定性判据

滑坡在渐进性变形过程中。因滑床或滑坡侧翼位置局部未贯通部位的存在，或滑坡启动以后受前进方向“柬口状”地形的约束，滑体变形受限制或运动制动，不能充分失能，从而在这些受限约束部位形成由松散岩土体组成的平卧“支撑拱”结构。“支撑拱”结构的形成，相当于滑坡变形的锁固段，它一方面阻挡拱后向下滑移的堆积物，使它在这一带压密、隆起，成为滑体中的应力集中部位；同时又通过拱圈将滑体中心的部分下滑推力传递至两侧拱座，使拱座成为应力相对更为集中的部位。一旦土体中孔隙水压力的增高，使土拱与拱座基岩接触面间的抗剪强度降低到一定程度，将导致某一个拱座失稳被突破，整个拱圈崩溃，进而引起“支撑拱”上部滑体的突然滑动。根据物理模型实验应力分析，滑体中“支撑拱”结构表现为拱顶凸向坡体上方的“最大主应力拱”，而在其上方一定高度范围内还出现拱顶凸向坡体下方的“最小主应力拱”，据此建立了“支撑拱”的计算模型。假定滑坡岩土体为刚塑性体，在考虑滑体自重力、滑面抗剪强度与滑坡两翼摩阻力的共同作用下，以及最小主应力拱引起的滑体中应力重分布的情况下，确定了“支撑拱”(最大主应力拱)上的均布荷载：根据拱的塑性极限平衡条件，建立了拱稳定性的判据：并定量分析了拱效应出现的条件、拱保持最大与最小稳定性的条件以及各种影响因素。     

桩承式加筋路堤土拱及格栅受力模型试验研究

介绍了桩承式加筋路堤足尺模型实验装置,该实验装置利用PVC材料水袋模拟桩间软土,从而在一定程度上能够控制桩土差异沉降。路堤填筑过程中测试了路堤内部土压力以及格栅拉力,并且重点分析了桩帽和桩间不同位置处土压力以及格栅拉力随填筑高度的变化规律。实验结果表明,路堤在填筑过程中发生了明显的土拱效应,路堤填筑完成后桩土应力比约为8.46,土拱高度约为1.125倍桩间净距;单向土工格栅能够进一步将桩间上方土压力传递到桩顶上方;随着路堤填筑高度的增加,格栅拉力增长并不大,路堤横向滑移引起的格栅拉力可以忽略不计。     

抗滑桩的桩间土拱效应问题研究

抗滑桩的设计理念是采用非连续结构,利用土体自身强度形成的拱效应来达到支挡目的。土拱效应是安全经济地发挥抗滑桩等非连续支挡结构支护功能的重要前提。通过对非均布荷载作用下土拱的力学性质分析,根据轴向压应力与矢跨比的函数关系,利用摩尔-库仑强度准则推导了土拱承载力与土拱净跨度和桩宽度的关系。     

A new model to predict soil pressure acting on deep burial jacked pipes

Soil pressure is a critical factor to pipe jacking projects both during and after the jacking. Current practices are based on modifications of one of Terzaghi arching model, e.g. Japan Microtunnelling Association, German standard ATV A 161, UK ‘Pipe Jacking Association’, ASCE 27, and Chinese standard GB 50332. In these practices, it is assumed that shearing bands arise from the outside of tunnel cross sections and extend to the ground surface. However, the shearing bands may desist below the ground surface (This scenario is called deep burial). If these practices are still applied, the calculations will result in underestimations. In this paper, a new calculation model, modified from the other Terzaghi arching model was proposed to specifically predict the soil pressure acting on the deep burial jacked pipes. Values of crucial parameters of the height of the shearing bands, friction angle, friction coefficient, soil pressure ratio, silo width and soil cohesion were analyzed based on published tunnel research results and trap-door experiments. The correctness of the new model was verified by in-situ measured soil pressure in Gongbei Tunnel project in Zhuhai city. In comparison to the in-situ measured soil pressure, the new model provided more logical estimations, while the current practices were found to underestimate the soil pressure.     

桩承式路堤土拱数值模拟中路堤土本构模型的选择

数值模拟方法已成为研究桩承式路堤中土拱最重要的手段,其关键在于路堤填土要采用合理的本构模型。建立桩承式路堤平面土拱分析的弹塑性有限元模型,考虑摩尔-库伦模型（MC）、硬化土模型（HS）和小应变硬化土模型（HSS）3种不同的路堤土本构模型,用有限元方法模拟不同路堤土本构模型下桩承式路堤中的土拱形态和土拱效应。计算结果表明：3种不同路堤土本构模型下平面土拱的形态都是半个椭圆。路堤土采用HS和HSS模型,获得的土拱形态、效应和桩帽-土差异沉降相同。较之HS和HSS模型,路堤土采用MC模型时计算得到的桩帽-土差异沉降较小,桩帽荷载分担比略大。当路堤高度较小时,采用MC模型获得的土拱远小于HS和HSS模型下的计算结果。土拱效应的数值模拟中路堤土可采用简单的MC模型,但土拱形态的数值模拟中路堤土宜采用HS模型。     

抗滑桩土拱效应的时效性试验分析

土拱效应是保证抗滑桩桩后土体稳定的重要因素,由于岩土体具有蠕变特性,必然导致桩间土拱的形成具有一定的时效性.笔者设计了抗滑桩室内推桩模型试验,分析了1 kN 、2 kN恒定外推力条件下,抗滑桩桩后土体内部的应力分布特征及土拱效应的时效性.沿法向布置的土压力计量测数据表明,土拱效应随着推力的增大而增强.随着时间的推移,土拱作用厚度相对增加;沿推力方向布置的土压力计量测数据表明,水平土拱效应伴随推力增长呈现出先增强而后逐渐扩展的现象,随着时间的增长,应力沿着法向扩散的范围有很大的增长.     

A simplified model for the analysis of piled embankments considering arching and subsoil consolidation

An analytical model is presented for the design of geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported (GRPS) embankments in this paper. The originality of the proposed solution lies in the fact that it allows considering the influence of the subsoil consolidation on the soil arching and geosynthetic strain. A nonlinear function is implemented to describe the subsoil behavior with the consolidation process in a closed-form solution. A simplified approach is then presented to link the arching development with the subsoil consolidation. The arching theory is combined with the tensioned membrane theory and the soil-structure interaction mechanisms to provide a simple and suitable design approach that enables a realistic approximation for designing soil–geosynthetic systems. The analytical model is capable of performing an ultimate and serviceability limit state design of GRPS embankments. While current methods cannot fully address the important effects of the subsoil consolidation, the analytical results suggested that arching and differential settlements increase with an increase of the subsoil consolidation degree. The analytical model is compared to field measurements and five other design standards for several full-scale field tests to study its validity. The results showed a satisfactory agreement between the proposed model and measured data, and generally better results are obtained as compared with other design methods.     

桩承式路堤中土拱效应产生过程可视化分析

"土拱效应"在提高桩承式路堤承载能力方面发挥着重要的作用。现今关于"土拱效应"的研究主要采用现场原型试验和数值模拟及其在此基础上的理论计算。借助于传统的光弹试验技术,研制出一种直径3 mm、透明度较高的聚碳酸酯光弹颗粒,用于近似模拟桩承式路堤中的土颗粒,通过自制的加载装置和光测力学图像处理系统,实现多种条件下路基内部应力分布的可视化,重点观测模型内部力链网格的产生、分布及变化规律,试验结果表明:填土高度会对土拱的形成及形状产生极大影响,填土高度太小,斜向力链会因缺乏扩展空间无法闭合而不能形成拱结构,随填土高度增加,土拱由三角拱向半圆拱或梯形拱过渡;荷载的大小变化不会影响土拱效应的出现,但会对土拱的结构形状产生较大影响;随桩距比的增大,土拱由三角拱向半圆拱或多拱演化,当桩距比大于3∶1时,土拱效应开始减弱直至消失,路堤承载能力大幅下降。     

刚性桩加固软土路基竖向土拱效应的试验分析

刚性桩加固软土路基填土在自重作用下形成竖向土拱并通过土拱传递荷载,浅层荷载传递机制直接影响到桩土协调工作和加固效果,但目前对竖向土拱效应以及土拱的特性仍然缺乏深入研究。利用设置试验段进行现场试验,对采集到的路基孔隙水压力和桩土相对位移数据进行分析处理,从应力和变形两方面验证了刚性桩竖向土拱的存在性。试验数据分析反映,一定的荷载对应一定的土拱力学平衡结构;在现场试验条件下土拱形成后,荷载每增加约20kPa,土拱破坏一次,而后重新形成;粗骨料填土材料形成的土拱稳定性较好,加桩帽形式的土拱效应更为显著。     

被动方桩土拱效应三维有限元分析

基于大型有限元软件包ADINA,建立模拟被动方桩的三维有限元模型,对在桩顶边界条件和桩土接触变化时桩基的不同性状进行分析:包括土拱效应机理,桩土间的成拱效应,桩身挠度与表面荷载的变化规律以及桩侧土压力、桩身轴力的变化规律。分析结果表明,黏性土地基在邻近堆载作用下,桩身挠度与表面荷载呈非线性关系,可以用三折线模型来模拟;桩顶自由时,桩前土压力介于朗肯主动土压力与被动土压力间,呈非线性分布;在同种土中,桩侧极限土压力沿桩身呈线性分布,但比Ito理论和沈珠江理论都小。     

Serviceability design for geosynthetic reinforced column supported embankments

In recent years, geosynthetic reinforced column supported embankments (GRCSEs) have become an increasingly popular design solution for road and rail infrastructure constructed over soft soil sites. However, the serviceability behaviour and deformation that often govern the suitability of their design is not well understood. This is due, in part, to the difficulties in describing the arching stress development in the load transfer platform (LTP). This paper highlights the need for coupled arching stress-deformation models to describe accurately serviceability behaviour. This approach contrasts the widely adopted two-step design approach, which uses limit-equilibrium models that de-couple the arching stress-deformation relationship to describe ultimate limit state behaviour. Using an analytical example, an arching stress/deformation model and an empirical relationship (developed by others) relating base LTP settlement to surface settlement, the relationship between serviceability behaviour and soft soil parameters is highlighted and the conditions leading to progressive collapse in GRCSEs are described. The approach presented provides a means to predict serviceability behaviour, and at the same time, raises questions about the long-term performance and the manner in which acceptable performance has been achieved in the short-term in several field case studies. In particular, those constructed at, or near, a minimum embankment height.     

Geosynthetic reinforced piled embankment modeling using discrete and continuum approaches

Understanding the load transfer mechanism can support engineers having more economical design of geosynthetic reinforced piled embankments. This study aims to investigate the load transfer mechanisms by two different numerical methods including the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and the Finite Difference Method (FDM). The DEM model adopts (a) discrete particles to simulate the micro-structure of the granular materials and (b) coupled discrete element – finite element method (DEM-FEM) to capture the interaction between granular materials and geotextiles. On the other hand, the FDM model uses an advanced constitutive soil model considering the hardening and softening behaviour of the granular materials. The numerical results show that the geotextiles can only contribute to the vertical loading resistance in cases where the soils between piles are soft enough. In terms of design, an optimum value of the geotextile tensile stiffness can be found considering the load, the soft soil stiffness and the thickness of the embankment. Both the DEM and the FDM show that a high geotextile tensile stiffness is not required since an extra stiffness will slightly contribute to the efficiency of the geosynthetic reinforced piled embankments. Nevertheless, both models are useful to optimize the design of geosynthetic reinforced piled embankments.