Abstract
The numerical modelling of geosynthetic-reinforced piled embankments using both the finite element method (FEM) and finite difference method (FDM) are compared. Plaxis 2D (FEM) was utilized to replicate FLAC (FDM) analysis originally presented by Han and Gabr on a unit cell axisymmetric model within a geosynthetic reinforced piled embankment (GRPE). The FEM and FED techniques were found to be in reasonable agreement, in both characteristic trend and absolute value. FEM consistently replicated the FDM outputs for deformational, loading, and load transfer mechanism (soil arching) response within the reinforced piled embankment structure with a reasonable degree of accuracy. However the FDM approach was found to give a slightly higher reinforcement tension and stress concentration but lower reinforcement strain at the pile cap than FEM, which was attributed to the greater discretize of the model geometry in the FDM than in FEM.
Highlights
Special construction methods are required when embankments are constructed on very soft clay or peat
The geosynthetic-reinforced piled embankment (GRPE) structure consists of closely spaced piles which penetrate the soft soil to reach a stiff bearing substratum, the pile group is overlain by the geosynthetic reinforced, upon which the embankment is constructed, Figure 1
Han and Wayne [37] suggested that the degree of the load transfer due to the soil arching effect can be quantified using the stress concentration ratio (n), defined as the stress on the pile caps to the stress imparted on the soft soil layer under the geosynthetic reinforcement, n = σc/σs
Summary
Special construction methods are required when embankments are constructed on very soft clay or peat. Geosynthetic reinforced piled embankments are widely used to overcome these problems when constructing on soft soil. The design of reinforced piled embankments is a complex soil-structure interaction problem involving embankment fill, geosynthetic reinforcement, a pile group, and the soft underlying soil see Love and Milligan [17]. Plaxis 2D is a finite element code for 2D plane strain and axisymmetric modelling of soil and rock behaviour for use on fast personal computers. Analysis of a 3D geosynthetic reinforced piled embankment structure by 2D finite element analysis and the limits of resultant expressions developed is constrained by the arbitrary restrictions of the 2D models predictive limits. Expressions are developed with similitude conditions concerning fundamental aspects related to the behaviour of the pile group, the soft soil, and the geosynthetic reinforcement model with the coupled FEM-FDM techniques
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