Simulation method for calculating stress and deformation of highway embankment on frozen soil area

Abstract

As the seasons go on, the variation of water content and temperature distribution of highway embankment is not regular in permafrost zone. It results in heterogeneous changes of the property of embankment soil. This leads to heterogeneous deformation of the embankment. If the deformation goes beyond the allowable value, the highway would be threatened by collapse. All of these phenomena should be taken into account with emphasis in the design of highway passing through the permafrost area. But at present no favorable measure has been derived. This paper bases on the elasto-plasticity theory and creep theory, by simulation of the variation of water content and temperature distribution and soil property, establishes a two-dimensional model to calculate the stress and deformation of highway embankment in permafrost area. In this model the creep deformation, the self-deformation in volume and the instantaneous deformation are considered. Especially the creep and instantaneous deformation behaviors under the changing process of soil property with time are studied.