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.     

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.     

Full-scale model tests of load transfer in geogrid-reinforced and floating pile-supported embankments

Well-designed field full-scale model tests were carried out to enhance the understanding of geogrid-reinforced and floating pile-supported (GRFPS) embankments constructed on medium compressibility soil (MCS). Two comparative test sections of GRFPS embankments with and without pile caps were built over silty clay with medium compressibility for field monitoring, over 25 months. The heavily instrumented embankments produced comprehensive high-quality data. Settlement, earth pressure, and geogrid strain measurements during embankment filling stages and the postconstruction placement stage were conducted. The influence of pile cap installation on the differential deformation and load transfer behaviour of the GRFPS embankment was evaluated. The results demonstrate the installation of pile caps can significantly improve the evolution characteristics of the stress increment ratio on the pile, facilitating a change in load sharing of the pile top from a “softening” feature to a “hardening” feature. The state of the “arching structure” heavily depends on the relative displacement. After the maximum arching is formed, although the subgrade load continuously increases, the arching enters the damage and recovery state, and the transfer of the overburden load increment is largely conducted by the tensioned membrane effect.     

Analytical solutions for geosynthetic-encased stone column-supported embankments with emphasis on nonlinear behaviours of columns

This paper presents an analytical approach to predict the behaviours of geosynthetic-encased stone column (GESC)-supported embankments. The soil arching in the embankment and the nonlinear behaviours of stone columns are considered. Based on nonlinear elastic and elastoplastic constitutive models of stone columns, the nonlinear behaviours of GESCs, including settlement and radial deformation, are analysed. The deformations of GESCs, the surrounding soil, and the overlying embankment fill are compatible by applying stress continuity and volume deformation continuity at the bottom of the embankment fill. This method is verified via comparison with literature data and numerical analysis. The influences of parameters of the GESC, including encasement stiffness and column friction, on the performance of the embankment are investigated. Without considering the nonlinear behaviours of the column, the column-soil stress ratio is overestimated. It is more appropriate that the nonlinear characters of the column be considered in the analysis of GESC-supported embankments.     

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.     

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.     

移动荷载作用下桩承式加筋路堤的动力特性

为了研究桩承式加筋路堤在移动荷载作用下的特性,采用FLAC 3D软件建立了移动荷载作用下道路的三维动力流固耦合分析模型,对桩承式加筋路堤和天然路堤在移动荷载作用下的竖向变形、桩土应力比、超孔隙水压力、加速度等进行了对比分析,并研究了不同轴载对路堤竖向变形的影响。分析结果表明：移动荷载作用下,桩承式加筋路堤通过桩体土拱效应和格栅张拉膜效应的联合作用,其路面竖向变形、桩土应力比、超孔隙水压力、加速度均比天然路堤的结果明显减小;随着轴载的增加,桩承式加筋路堤路面竖向变形不断增大。     

考虑路堤填筑过程与地基土固结相耦合的 桩承式路堤土拱效应分析

 土拱效应分析是桩承式路堤设计时需要解决的首要问题,在总结分析已有现场测试资料及研究成果的基础上,建立能考虑路堤填筑过程与地基土固结相耦合的土拱效应计算模型。该计算模型比较完整地反映了从路堤开始填筑直到地基土固结完成整个过程中土拱效应的发展变化历程,模型计算结果与现场实测结果比较吻合。利用该计算模型对台缙高速公路工程桩承式路堤土拱效应及桩身中性点位置的变化特征进行分析,研究结果表明：(1) 在路堤填筑过程中,桩土应力比迅速增加,路堤填筑完毕直至地基土固结完成这个过程中,桩土应力比虽然有所变化,但变化的幅度不大,与路堤刚填筑完毕时的桩土应力比相比,后期桩土应力比的变化幅度不大于15%;(2) 在路堤填筑及地基土固结过程中,桩身中性点位置经历了先逐渐向下移动、尔后向上移动、再向下移动、最终趋于稳定位置的过程。该研究成果可为桩承式路堤设计提供有益的参考。     

A simplified method for assessing the serviceability performance of geosynthetic reinforced and pile-supported embankment

A simplified method for assessing the serviceability performance of geosynthetic reinforced and pile-supported embankment is presented, where the subsoil consolidation is introduced remaining compatible with the development of soil arching and the reinforcement sag. A piecewise function of the ground reaction curve is developed and used to quantify the arching efficiency. The link between the arching evolution and the subsoil consolidation is then established through the load-carrying equilibrium in the area between piles together with the tensile membrane theory. The reaction of the subsoil is described using the 1-D consolidation theory where the stress history is considered. A parametric study is performed to demonstrate the serviceability performance of a geosynthetic reinforced and pile-supported embankment. The serviceability design of the geosynthetic reinforced and pile-supported embankment is achieved with the proposed method which offers an approach to estimate the time consumed and the subsoil settlement required to achieve a service state.     

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。     

Reliability-based settlement analysis of embankments over soft soils reinforced with T-shaped deep cement mixing piles

This paper presents a reliability-based settlement analysis of T-shaped deep cement mixing (TDM) pile-supported embankments over soft soils. The uncertainties of the mechanical properties of the in-situ soil, pile, and embankment, and the effect of the pile shape are considered simultaneously. The analyses are performed using Monte Carlo Simulations in combination with an adaptive Kriging (using adaptive sampling algorithm). Individual and system failure probabilities, in terms of the differential and maximum settlements (serviceability limit state (SLS) requirements), are considered. The reliability results for the embankments supported by TDM piles, with various shapes, are compared and discussed together with the results for conventional deep cement mixing pile-supported embankments with equivalent pile volumes. The influences of the inherent variabilities in the material properties (mean and coefficient of variation values) on the reliability of the piled embankments, are also investigated. This study shows that large TDM piles, particularly those with a shape factor of greater than 3, can enhance the reliability of the embankment in terms of SLS requirements, and even avoid unacceptable reliability levels caused by variability in the material properties.     

Long-term reinforcement strains for column supported embankments with viscous reinforcement by FEM

The time-dependent performance of deep-mixing-method column supported embankments reinforced by viscous reinforcement is investigated for different long-term (at 99% degree of consolidation) reinforcement strains using fully coupled three-dimensional finite element method. The influence of long-term reinforcement strains on long-term net embankment height, maximum crest settlement, maximum differential settlement at the crest and horizontal toe movement of embankments numerically constructed over two soft foundations is explored with the consideration of viscosity of two reinforcement products. Based on a series of numerical simulations, an approach to controlling the deformations of column supported embankments to modest levels while maximizing their long-term service heights is proposed. Also, a correlation between long-term reinforcement strain and end-of-consolidation reinforcement strain is suggested for the studied cases.     

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.     

刚性桩加固高速公路软基土拱效应现场试验研究及其与解析解的比较

用刚性桩处理高速公路软基能减小路堤沉降,提高路堤稳定性,缩短工期。土拱对路堤的承载变形性状有重要影响,到目前为止,对路堤中土拱效应的研究还不深入。本文结合某高速公路刚性桩处理软基试验段,实测了路堤填筑过程中及填筑结束后一段时间内桩帽、桩间土土压力及相应的沉降,分析了桩土沉降差、路堤高度、桩间距、桩帽大小等因素对土拱效应的影响,并与现有的几种土拱效应计算方法进行了比较。结果表明:①土拱效应的发挥程度与桩土沉降差密切相关;②当路堤较高,桩间距较小,桩帽较大时,桩体荷载分担比较大;③根据Hewlett&Randolph及陈云敏改进的土拱效应计算方法所得到的桩体荷载分担比与实测结果比较接近。     

高填方加筋新旧路堤现场试验与数值模拟分析

 结合山区高速公路拓宽工程,对土工格室处治高填方新旧路堤进行现场试验,分析加宽高填方路堤侧向位移、沉降及土压力变化规律,研究格室处治效果。在现场试验的基础上,采用三维薄膜单元模拟土工格室的立体加筋性能,建立三维弹塑性模型,分析土工格室受力特点,通过对相关参数的敏感性分析,揭示高填方加宽路堤的变形规律。结果表明,采用三维薄膜单元,能较好地反映土工格室处治现场高填方新旧路堤的规律。与现场试验相比,利用数值试验不仅能得到现场的加筋效果,而且还能通过分析筋材与填料参数的变化和筋材铺设间距来研究格室处治高填方路堤的规律,从而可进一步探讨格室加筋的机制。高填方路堤在加宽路基自重荷载作用下沉降主要集中在加宽路堤的中上部,侧向位移从路基顶面到底部依次逐渐减少。土工格室所在层位起到扩散荷载、减少侧向变形和不均匀沉降的作用。填料与筋材模量愈高,加筋间距愈小,加筋效果愈好,较为合理的铺设间距为2～3 m。该研究成果对高填方路堤加筋处理和新旧路基结合部处理均有借鉴意义。     

桩承式加筋路堤三维动力流固耦合分析

为了研究交通荷载作用下桩承式加筋路堤的动力特性,采用FLAC 3D软件建立了路堤的三维动力流固耦合分析模型,对无筋无桩、有筋无桩、无筋有桩、有筋有桩4种情况的路堤在动荷载作用下的竖向位移、水平位移、桩土应力比、超孔隙水压力、加速度等进行了计算分析,对比研究了4种情况下各自的特点,揭示了桩承式加筋路堤的作用机制.数值分析...     

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。     

加筋土路堤整体稳定可靠度影响因素分析

从现有的一些可靠度计算方法出发,提取影响加筋土路堤整体稳定性可靠度的各种因素,引入灰色关联理论来计算各影响因素的重要性程度,为加筋土路堤的合理设计提供了依据。     

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.     

Stability analysis of stone column-supported and geosynthetic-reinforced embankments on soft ground

This study focuses on the stability of stone column-supported and geosynthetic-reinforced embankments on soft soil. An upper-bound limit state plasticity failure discretization scheme (known as discontinuity layout optimization (DLO)), which determines the embankment stability without pre-assuming a slip surface, is used. The relationships between the stability of stone column-supported and geosynthetic-reinforced embankments and various influencing parameters, including the soil strength, geometric configuration, reinforcement strength, and area replacement ratio, are analysed. It is found that geosynthetics provide a significant contribution to embankment stability. Two failure mechanisms of geosynthetics (i.e., rupture failure and bond failure) are revealed and the effect of geosynthetics on embankment stability is governed by the failure mode. The application of stone columns mitigates the risk of geosynthetic failure. To provide an analytical solution for primary design in engineering practice, an approach based on the limit equilibrium method is proposed. Validations are performed with the DLO solution to demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of the developed analytical approach.