Study on Long-Term Performance of Geogrid-Reinforced and Pile-Supported Embankment at Bridge Approach

Jun Zhang,Zhijie Sun,Ziyang Zhao,Haohui Xin

doi:10.1155/2021/5567391

Abstract

Bridges have been widely used in highway and railway engineering, especially in mountain areas. The differential settlement between bridge abutment and approach embankment is one of the most challenging problems, and it will result in “bumps” to affect the driving safety and comfortableness at the end of a bridge. The geogrid-reinforced and pile-supported embankment (GRPS embankment) is proposed to mitigate the differential settlement at the bridge approach. In this paper, the model tests and numerical studies are carried out to study the long-term performance of the GRPS embankment considering the consolidation of subsoil. Firstly, a series of model tests are conducted to evaluate the long-term performance of the GRPS embankment using a specially designed model box. Then, the numerical model is constructed using the finite element software MIDAS, and the numerical model is verified from the model test results. Finally, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the influences of pile net spacing, pile modulus, and filling modulus.

Highlights

Bump at bridge head is commonly encountered at roadbridge transition section, which is caused by the differential settlement between bridge abutment and approach embankment [1,2,3]. is bridge bump will in turn intensify the differential settlement between bridge abutment and approach embankment and affect the safety and comfort of driving
The model tests and numerical studies are carried out to study the long-term performance of the GRPS embankment considering the consolidation of subsoil. e parametric study is conducted to evaluate the effects of pile net spacing, pile modulus, and filling modulus
A series of model tests are carried out to evaluate the long-term performance of GRPS embankments using a specially designed model box. en, the numerical model is established by using the finite element software

Summary

Introduction

Bump at bridge head is commonly encountered at roadbridge transition section, which is caused by the differential settlement between bridge abutment and approach embankment [1,2,3]. is bridge bump will in turn intensify the differential settlement between bridge abutment and approach embankment and affect the safety and comfort of driving. Bump at bridge head is commonly encountered at roadbridge transition section, which is caused by the differential settlement between bridge abutment and approach embankment [1,2,3]. The trenchtype soil arch model of the ideal soil is proposed by assuming the vertical shear plane between the internal and external soil columns [10]. Based on this vertical shear plane assumption, the mechanical models of the GRPS embankment are established [11,12,13]. The model tests and numerical studies are carried out to study the long-term performance of the GRPS embankment considering the consolidation of subsoil. e parametric study is conducted to evaluate the effects of pile net spacing, pile modulus, and filling modulus

Model Test

Numerical Model and Verification

Influence Factors

Conclusions