Embankment construction over soft foundation soils is a challenging task for geotechnical engineers due to the undesirable characteristics of soft soils, such as excessive settlements and low bearing capacity. Among the various ground-improvement methods available for overcoming these undesirable characteristics, geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported (GRPS) embankments are considered to be a reliable solution suitable for time-bound construction projects and difficult ground conditions. Various researchers have introduced methods to design GRPS embankments based on different load transfer mechanisms. However, among design engineers, there is uncertainty regarding the applicability of these design methods. This paper investigates the load transfer mechanism of GRPS embankments using two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element analyses, and currently available design methods are compared with the results of the finite element modelling. A comparison of the design methods was carried out using the stress reduction ratio, the geosynthetic tension and pile efficacy, considering different pile diameters and spacing, and embankment heights, which govern the currently available design methods. Based on these model results, the inconsistencies in the currently available design methods are identified and discussed in detail.
Geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported (GRPS) embankments provide an effective solution to the problems faced by geotechnical engineers when dealing with embankment construction on soft foundation soils. Introduction of piles will reduce the embankment load transferred to the soft soil and the addition of a geosynthetic reinforcement layer will enhance the load transfer to the piles while alleviating the uneven settlements at the crest of the embankment. Numerous studies have been carried out regarding GRPS embankments throughout the last few decades including both experimental work and numerical studies. However, the creep effects of the geosynthetic layer were not investigated in these studies. This paper presents a numerical analysis carried out on a GRPS embankment based on the finite-element method including the creep effects of the geosynthetic layer. The creep model used in the analysis was validated using experimental data from previous studies which involved a geosynthetic pullout test and uniaxial tensile tests. The analysis was carried out in three-dimensional condition and the interaction between the soil and the geosynthetic layer was also taken into account. Furthermore, results from a parametric study to investigate the significance of creep on the overall behaviour of GRPS by varying the creep model parameters are presented.
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