Load-deformation of piled embankments considering geosynthetic membrane effect and interface friction

Abstract

The use of high-strength geosynthetics to enhance the load transfer mechanism onto columns is an established and increasingly popular technique in geosynthetic-reinforced and column-supported embankments. The main focus of this paper is to extend the existing models that describe the membrane action and soil arching with skin friction along the geosynthetic. This extension was undertaken to identify the parameters that affect the tension in the geosynthetic and assess the effect of geosynthetics on the load transfer. A general expression for the increase in load-bearing capacity due to the membrane action based on strict equilibrium conditions is also shown. The geosynthetic deformation is described assuming both circular and parabolic deformation shapes. These two deformation shapes do not result in a significantly different membrane effect. Therefore, the choice of deformation parameter is more important than the choice of deformation shape. The new method using both deformation models was combined with the Concentric Arches model of Van Eekelen and co-workers, and compared with the measurements and numerical results. A reasonable consistency is found. For the considered cases, the skin friction along the geosynthetic reduces the maximum geosynthetic deflection to 2.5 to 5.3%. This reduction becomes more important when the embankment is higher.