Abstract
A discrete element study of a reinforced granular embankment by rigid inclusions, submitted to cyclic loadings is presented. The discrete element method (based on molecular dynamics method) is used to understand the load transfer mechanisms into the granular layer (just above the inclusions) during cyclic loadings. The microscale study showed that the soil above the rigid inclusions retrieve the larger forces, illustrating on the role of the granular layer as a load transfer layer, while the settlement of both the granular layer and loading slab increase with loading. The efficiency of load transfer to piles and ability (capacity of the granular material to postpone the overloads to the piles) decreases with cycling, but keeping high values at the end of cycles. The transfer of forces in the granular layer is achieved by two mechanisms, interacting together (inverted pyramid above rigid inclusions and arching), confirming results found in the literature.
Highlights
Soil improvement is a popular technique widely used around the world in the area of compressible soils
The load distribution between rigid inclusions and compressible soil depends on the relative stiffness of both and on the efficiency of the granular layer which depends on its height and the shearing mechanism between granular particles [2]
A discrete element study has been conducted to investigate the influence of loading cycles on a reinforced soft soil by rigid inclusions, under a slab
Summary
Soil improvement is a popular technique widely used around the world in the area of compressible soils. One of the soil improvement methods is soil reinforcement with rigid inclusions Due to their relatively high rigidity, they attract loads applied on the soil reducing loads directed to the compressible layer resulting in lower settlements. A granular transfer layer is located directly above the compressible soil reinforced by rigid inclusions and below footing or slab. For efficient use of rigid inclusions, it is important to understand the load transfer mechanisms in the load transfer layer These mechanisms were studied using the discrete element method under monotonic loading [2, 3]. [4] showed how cycling reduces granular layer efficiency in directing the forces towards the piles and increases slab displacement and compressible soil settlement, but no data is found in the literature at the grain scale to explain the evolution of the load transfer mechanisms during cyclic loadings. We present a numerical study focusing on the grain scale interaction to fully understand the macroscopic load transfer mechanisms in a typical soil improvement case, using the discrete element method with cycling loadings
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