A simplified model to analyze the reinforced piled embankments

It is an economic way to use the piled embankment for the construction of embankment over soft soil. The combination of piles and reinforcement can effectively reduce the differential settlement at the surface of embankment. The paper presents a simplified model for analysis of an embankment of granular fill on soft ground supported by reinforcement and piles. This model is based on consideration of the arching effect in granular material proposed by Hewlett & Randolph. The vertical equilibrium of the unit body at the center of pile caps immediately below the reinforcement is established. The refinements of the model are that the failure mechanisms of the arch both at the crown and at the pile cap were considered, three-dimensional situation was taken into account for reinforced piled embankment, calculation of the vertical stress carried by the subsoil due to arching effect and reinforcement for multi-layered soil was proposed. Using the simplified model, the influence of embankment height, one-dimensional compression modulus of subsoil, tensile stiffness of reinforcement on stress reduction ratio (SRR) and tensile force of reinforcement is investigated. It is found that the model can be used to assess the relative contribution of the reinforcement and subsoil. The results show that subsoil gives a major contribution to overall vertical equilibrium, while the reinforcement gives obvious contribution at relatively large settlement. The inclusion of the reinforcement can reduce the vertical stress acting on the subsoil. The simplified model is then evaluated by three case studies. The results of this model show good consistence with these cases.     

桩承式加筋路堤土拱效应试验研究

桩承式加筋路堤中存在土拱效应,它影响着路堤的荷载传递和沉降变形性状,桩土应力比是反应土拱效应的重要参数。本文通过模型试验,研究了桩土相对位移、路堤高度、桩梁净间距、桩梁宽度及水平加筋体等因素对桩土应力比及路堤沉降的影响。结果表明:①桩土应力比随桩土相对位移的发展而变化,存在上限值和下限值;②路堤高度与桩梁净间距之比越大,桩土应力比越大;桩梁宽度与桩梁净间距之比越大,桩土应力比也越大;③使用水平加筋体能提高桩土应力比,提高的幅度与水平加筋体拉伸强度有关;④当路堤高度与桩梁净间距之比小于1.4时,无论是否使用水平加筋体,路堤顶面均会出现明显的差异沉降;当路堤高度与桩梁净间距之比大于1.6时,路堤顶面不会出现明显的差异沉降。该研究成果可为桩承式加筋路堤设计提供有益的参考。     

设置变形调节装置桩筏基础工作机理及应用领域

常规桩筏基础在不断推进的工程实践中面临新的困难。为迎接新的挑战,笔者等在厦门地区对设置变形调节装置桩筏基础进行了工程试点应用,取得了显著的经济效益和社会效益。本文在详细介绍设置变形调节装置桩筏基础工作机理的基础上,重点对其应用领域进行了阐述。结果表明:和常规桩筏基础相比,设置变形调节装置桩筏基础通过调节器的设置,实现了桩基支承刚度的人为干预和按需调节。设置变形调节装置桩筏基础主要可应用于端承型桩基桩土共同作用、变刚度调平设计、老桩的再生利用以及土岩结合地基等支承刚度严重不均匀的情况。     

Analysis and modification of the British Standard BS8006 for the design of piled embankments

The piled embankment is an increasingly popular construction method. The Dutch Design Guideline for piled embankments (CUR 226) was published in the first half of 2010. Several existing models have been analysed to determine the calculation rules used in the Dutch Guideline. The British Standard BS8006 sometimes calculates tensile forces in the geosynthetic reinforcement that differ considerably from other models. For quite thin embankments in particular, BS8006 designs a relatively strong and thus expensive geosynthetic (basal) reinforcement in comparison with other design models. These differences are not always fully understood, leading to uncertainty. This paper analyses BS8006 and demonstrates why it behaves differently from other models. It also examines why this behaviour is different than would be expected. For example, it is shown that calculations using BS8006 are based on a higher load than the actual load.A modification to BS8006 is proposed, which is shown to give comparable results to the German Standard EBGEO for situations where there is no subsoil support.The results of BS8006, Modified BS8006, and the German/Dutch guideline are compared with finite element calculations and field measurements. It is concluded that the results given by the Modified BS8006 are more accurate to those using BS8006.     

桩承式围堤对邻近桥梁桩基的影响

桩承式围堤是将上部围堤或堆载荷重通过桩筏基础传递到深层较硬的土层,减少由于围堤或堆载对邻近桩基产生负摩阻力和侧向推力的一种构筑物。本文采用基于Geddes应力解的桩筏基础简化分析方法,以嘉兴港海盐港区三期围堤与杭州湾跨海大桥的穿越段为例,对桩承式围堤对邻近桩基产生的负摩阻力和侧向推力进行了理论研究,并与三维弹性和弹塑性数值模拟结果进行了对比分析。结果表明:①桩承式围堤可有效降低围堤或地面堆载等荷载条件对邻近桩基的影响;②本文采用的简化分析方法与弹性和弹塑性三维数值模拟结果吻合较好,可作为桩承式围堤结构基础的分析和设计方法。     

Overall stability of geosynthetic-reinforced embankments on soft soils

Overall stability of geosynthetic-reinforced embankments on soft soils is analysed using two different methodologies: application of a numerical model based on the finite element method; use of a limit equilibrium method. These two methodologies are described and also applied on three geosynthetic-reinforced embankments on soft soils. One of the cases is a case history constructed up to failure. Considering the analysis of the results, some conclusions are formulated on the limit equilibrium method accuracy, namely regarding the critical slip surface, overall safety factor and overturning and resisting moments.     

A simple design approach to analyse the piled embankment including tensile reinforcement and subsoil contributions

There is not one generally accepted approach for the design of geogrid-reinforced pile-supported (GRPS) embankments. Relevant mechanisms include arching of the embankment material, but also the effect of geogrid reinforcement and potentially a contribution from the underlying subsoil. This paper presents a simple design approach to identify the contribution of all three mechanisms, in which the contribution of multi-layered geogrid reinforcement is also presented. To validate the theoretical predictions for the effect of geogrid reinforcement and the potential contribution of underlying subsoil, a series of three-dimensional finite element analyses are conducted. It is found that a point of ‘maximum arching’ is increased with the height of embankment. This study also presents that the reinforcement could reduce the ultimate stress on the subsoil. However, this requires significant sag of the reinforcement. It is found that the sag of reinforcement is very sensitive to the span of the reinforcement between piles, but relatively insensitive to the stiffness of the reinforcement. For a case with three layers of geogrid, the upper two grids carry relatively little tension compared to the bottom layer. This in turn leads to an approximate but simple equation of vertical equilibrium which may be of use in design.     

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。     

Design of geosynthetic reinforced column supported embankments using an interaction diagram

Geosynthetic reinforced column supported embankments predominantly utilise two mechanisms to transfer embankment loads towards column heads, soil arching and membrane actions. When undertaking the design of column supported embankments, it is common practice to perform a two-step design, whereby the arching actions are estimated independently of the subsoil deformation and membrane actions. This approach is unable to capture the deformation dependency exhibited by both arching and membrane actions. This paper presents deformation dependent arching and membrane action models and implements them within an interaction diagram. It is shown that an interaction diagram-based design approach is capable of performing an ultimate and serviceability limit state design of a geosynthetic reinforced column supported embankment. In contrast, most existing analytical design methods only consider the ultimate limit state. The proposed method is applied to a design example where the benefits of such a design approach are demonstrated.     

抗土洞塌陷的低填方加筋路基荷载传递机制及设计方法

低填方加筋路基对地基承载力要求较低,同时利用水平加筋法跨越尺寸较小的土洞能有效预防路堤出现突发式局部沉陷,提高路堤抗工后沉降和失稳的安全系数,正被逐步应用于岩溶土洞地区道路工程;但其作用机理复杂,现存设计方法大都偏于保守,考虑抗土洞塌陷的低填方加筋路基荷载传递机制的设计方法亟待提出。通过揭示受土洞塌陷影响的低填方加筋路基荷载传递机制,推导了考虑路基差异沉降引起土体应力偏转的竖向应力计算方法,假定塌陷区上方加筋体作用抛物线荷载,从而明晰了加筋体应力-应变状态;应对岩溶区不同形态的土洞塌陷,同时考虑设计需要满足的正常使用极限状态与承载能力极限状态,提出了抗土洞塌陷的低填方加筋路基加筋体及路堤填方高度设计方法,通过与现有设计方法的对比进行了合理性及准确性验证,可为空洞上方低填方加筋路基设计提供参考。     

Centrifuge model tests on piled raft foundation in sand subjected to lateral and moment loads

Piled raft foundation has been widely recognized as a rational and economical foundation system with the combined effects of raft and piles. However, the behavior of laterally loaded piled raft foundation has not been well understood due to the complicated interaction of raft–ground–piles. A series of static horizontal loading tests were carried out on three types of foundation models, i.e., piled raft, pile group and raft alone models, on sand using a geotechnical centrifuge. In this paper, the influences of relatively large moment load and rotation on the overall performance of laterally loaded piled raft foundation were examined. From the centrifuge model tests, it is found that the vertical displacement due to horizontal loads is different between piled raft and pile group foundation, and this vertical displacement has significant influences on the performance of laterally loaded piled raft foundation. The horizontal resistance of the pile part in the piled raft foundation is higher than those observed in the pile group foundation due to raft base contact pressure. The vertical displacement of the foundation due to the horizontal loads affects the vertical resistances of piles, which results in the different mobilization of moment resistances between the piled raft and pile group foundations.     

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.     

Comparison and evaluation of analytical models for the design of geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported embankments

Geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported (GRPS) embankments are becoming more and more popular as this technique showed good performances in practice. Various design methods were introduced to analyze GRPS embankments. However, the applicability of these design methods was not always fully validated. This paper focuses on the review of projects containing field observations of GRPS embankments. The comparison results showed that the assumptions related to the subsoil support, geosynthetic, arching shape, and its evolution are not consistent in the analytical methods. Comparison results with twenty-five full-scale cases and six series of experiments emphasize that these available design methods produce significantly different results in predicting loads transfer mechanism. The analytical models predict arching for cohesionless fill better that for cohesive fill soils. Besides, the analytical methods which consider subsoil support such as the CUR226 and EBGEO methods give results that are in a better agreement with experimental data as compared to other methods which do not consider the subsoil support. The CUR226 (2016) analytical model seems to be able to give the best performance with measured data when compared to other design methods. Finally, the results pointed out that the limit equilibrium model is adequate and has good performance.     

砂填料桩承式路堤土拱效应模型试验

现有的桩承式路堤荷载传递计算方法主要依据3类土拱效应力学计算模型。由于宏观土拱形态观察的难度较大,现有计算方法普遍缺乏对不同填料与参数下拱效应传力机制以及宏观土拱拱形参数的深入探讨。采用自制的试验装置对砂填料桩承式路堤土拱效应模型进行探讨,进行了3组不同桩距比下3种填土高度的模型试验。模型试验装置配备了位移控制装置模拟与精确控制桩间土下沉,在下沉过程中连续、同步的采集土压力以及砂箱内部填料的照片,并通过摄影测量技术获取全场位移数据。通过对桩土应力比曲线特征以及曲线特征点所对应的填料颗粒位移图的综合分析,探讨了砂填料桩承式路堤拱效应传力机制,揭示了填料内部存在的初始三角形松动滑移面。基于此提出了初始三角拱力学计算模型,分析得到了滑移面角度随桩距比变化的规律,并利用滑移面夹角统计数据确定了拟合计算公式,通过力学推导建立了适用于砂填料桩承式路堤的桩土应力比计算方法。通过与Rogbeck法、BS8006法、Terzaghi法以及模型试验实测数据的对比,验证了计算方法的合理性。     

Numerical analysis of a geosynthetic-reinforced piled load transfer platform – Validation on centrifuge test

Soft soil improvement techniques using a network of rigid inclusions and geosynthetic reinforcement are investigated to improve our understanding of load transfer mechanisms towards piles. The physical modelling of the system consists in simulating fictional soft soil settlement through downward displacement of a perforated tray above a network of rigid piles placed in the centrifuge swinging basket. Tests are used to validate the results of the numerical study.Elasto-plastic and hypoplastic constitutive models have been used to predict the behaviour of the granular mattress, which simulates a Load Platform Transfer (LPT). A two-dimensional, axisymmetrical model has been adopted, which fulfils the validation on the experimental test and the time needed for calculation.The results of the parametric studies show that load transfer increases with mattress thickness and closer pile spacing. Geosynthetic deflection is reduced when load transfer is high.     

A simplified method for analysis of a piled embankment reinforced with geosynthetics

Piled embankments provide an economic solution to the problem of constructing embankments over soft soils. The piles and geosynthetic combination can alleviate the uneven surface settlements that sometimes occur in embankments supported by piles without reinforcement. The main focus of this paper is to present a new method for analysis of an embankment of granular fill on soft ground supported by a rectangular grid of piles and geosynthetic. This method is based on consideration of the arching effect in granular soil and similar to the method proposed by Low, B.K., Tang, S.K., Choa, V. [1994. Arching in piled embankments. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 120 (11), 1917–1938]. The main refinements are: inclusion of a uniform surcharge load on the embankment fill, individual square caps were used, and taking into account the skin friction mechanism, which contributes to soil–geosynthetic interface resistance. Using this method, the influence of embankment height, soft ground depth, soft ground elastic modulus, and geosynthetic tensile stiffness on efficiency, stress concentration ratio, settlement ratio, tension of geosynthetic, and axial strain of geosynthetic are investigated. The results show that inclusion of a geosynthetic membrane can increase the fill load carried by piles. As a result, both the total and differential settlements of the embankment can be reduced. The new design method was verified against several current design methods. Theoretical solution showed that BS8006 [1995. Code of Practice for Strengthened/Reinforced Soils and other Fills. British Standards Institution, London, p. 162] and Guido, V.A., Kneuppel, J.D., Sweeny, M.A. [1987. Plate loading tests on geogrid-reinforced earth slabs. In: Proceedings of the Geosynthetics '87, New Orleans, USA, IFAI, pp. 216–225] methods overpredict the vertical stress acting on the geosynthetic due to that the reaction of the soft ground on the geosynthetic is not considered in their methods. It also showed that the present method is in good agreement with Low, B.K., Tang, S.K., Choa, V. [1994. Arching in piled embankments. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 120 (11), 1917–1938] method.     

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.     

轮胎与格室加筋路堤性能及承载力研究

为研究废旧轮胎与土工格室加筋路堤边坡的性能,分别对废旧轮胎、土工格室加筋路堤边坡开展了室内模型试验,并考虑了填料两种不同相对密度的影响。试验结果表明:相对素土路堤而言,废旧轮胎和土工格室加筋路堤均能有效地提高承载力,增强其稳定性,减小不均匀沉降。加筋后均有效地增大了附加应力的扩散角,使得附加应力分布更为均匀,并且素土路堤与加筋路堤中轴线上附加应力差值随路堤深度增大而减小。中轴线以外的质点侧向位移随路堤深度的增加,呈现出先增大后减小的趋势,几种路堤中,废旧轮胎加筋路堤侧向位移最小。加筋效果随相对密度增大而减小,在低相对密度条件下,加筋后承载力能达到素土路堤2倍以上,而在高相对密度下却不足2倍。最后根据土工格室加筋地基承载力计算方法及对废旧轮胎加筋机理分析,提出了关于废旧轮胎加筋地基承载力计算方法。