Controlling Criterion for Differential Settlement of Widened Expressway

Abstract

The controlling criterion for differential settlement between the new and old subgrade of widened expressway is an important technical problem concerned by academia and engineering field. Based on an engineering project, finite element method was used to analyze the effects of foundation, embankment and road surface on the differential settlement, in which the foundation, embankment and pavement was considered as a whole structure, and the ultimate tensile strength was used to determine its strength. The calculation duration is from the construction of the original road to the post construction settlement of the widened road. The controlling criterion of differential settlement after bilateral widened expressway was explored. The analysis results show that the maximum differential settlement should be controlled in 5cm considering the mechanical response of pavement structure, and the integral analysis method is more reasonable to analyze the differential settlement of widened subgrade.