A transparent layered soil technique to investigate geosynthetic-reinforced piled-supported embankments

Abstract

Geosynthetic reinforced piled supported embankments have been widely used in recent years as a solution to embankments over soft soils. Geosynthetic-reinforced load transfer platforms (LTPs) have been used at the bottom of embankments to improve the distribution of stresses over piles. However, mechanisms governing this technique still demand to be fully understood. This paper employs a transparent soils technique to investigate the mechanisms governing geosynthetic-reinforced LTPs. Transparent small-scale 1-g laboratory models were constructed using two different transparent materials composing a layered transparent system. Fused quartz grains were used to simulate the granular fill material of the LTP, while Laponite RD® was employed to replicate the soft clay. A seeding particles plane was installed inside the model generating a stochastic pattern for images capturing. Distribution of displacements and strains were then interpreted using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technology. Based on the displacements and strains responses of the small-scale model, this paper discusses the mechanisms acting in unreinforced and geosynthetic-reinforced LTP (single layer). The presence of geosynthetic reinforcement reduced, in general, the displacements and deformations of the models.