Deformation and Failure Characteristics of Embankment upon the Slope in Permafrost Area under Different Foundation Slope

Abstract

To investigate the effect of foundation slope on stability of embankment upon the slope in permafrost area, 3 groups of model tests with different foundation slope are designed using the mechanical similarity based on geotechnical centrifuge modeling, when the freezing-thawing depth of the embankment reaches the greatest. The results show that: (1) The foundation slope has effect on the stability of the embankment. The deformation mainly concentrates on the soil layers above the freezing-thawing interface, and the deformation mutation point takes place at the freezing-thawing interface. (2) According to fracture characteristics and failure severity of the embankment, failure modes can be divided into the cracking failure in shallow layer and in deep layer. (3) The cause of unstable failure is the deficiency of shear resistance strength of the weak belt, the soil layers above the freezing-thawing interface slips along the freezing-thawing interface under gravity load. (4) Under the experimental conditions, the critical value of the foundation slope influencing on the stability of the embankment is about 1:6 when the height of the slope embankment is 5.0 m.