Combined effects of reinforcement and prefabricated vertical drains on embankment performance

Abstract

The behaviour of geosynthetic-reinforced embankments constructed over soft cohesive soils installed with prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) is investigated by numerically examining an embankment constructed over different foundation soils. The partial consolidation during embankment construction, the consequent shear strength gain of the foundation soil, and the effect of the use of reinforcement on the mobilization of shear strength are examined. It is shown that the combined use of reinforcement and PVDs can significantly increase embankment stability and potentially allow the rapid construction of higher embankments than could be achieved with either method of soil improvement alone. Construction rate and spacing of PVDs can significantly affect the degree of consolidation at the end of construction and the stability of the embankment. For the situation examined, the effect of well resistance of typical vertical drains is insignificant. A relatively simple method for calculating the degree of consolidation and the strength gain of the foundation soil during construction is evaluated based on finite element results and is shown to be reasonably conservative. A design procedure is proposed to combine the design of reinforcement and PVDs.Key words: soft clay, prefabricated vertical drain, reinforcement, embankment stability, consolidation, strength gain.