Seismic deformation analyses for settlement reduction effect of geotextile reinforced embankment under liquefaction condition

Abstract

Many earth structures underlain by loose sand foundation have been damaged by the liquefaction of foundation during past earthquakes. Public Works Research Institute carried out shaking table tests on embankment model reinforced by geotextiles. In this test, reinforced embankment settled by liquefaction of foundation, but the settlement was smaller to some degree in reinforced model than in un-reinforced one. Although this reinforcement is not a positive measure for settlement reduction, embankments can maintain their shape. Therefore it can be expected that road and/or dike embankments maintain their function.This paper describes the followings.(1) Modeling of un-reinforced and reinforced embankments filled on loose sand foundation for two-dimensional seismic response analyses.(2) Results of the analyses for liquefaction-induced deformation occurred under two levels of earthquake motion.(3) Considerations on settlement reduction effect by reinforced embankment method and subjects for future research.