The Behavior of Piled Embankments under Embankment Loads and Traffic Loads

Abstract

Under traffic loads and embankment weight, the embankment fill mass between pile caps, has a tendency to move downward, due to the presence of soft ground. Shear resistance from the fill above the pile caps restrains this movement. The shear resistance reduces the pressure acting on the soil between pile caps, but increases the load applied onto the pile caps. This load transfer mechanism is referred to as arching effect. Piled embankment is generally related to the advantage of soil arching effects of granular soil. Most of present researches for piled embankments are focusing on the soil arching effect under static loads, but it is lack of investigation on the soil arching and the behavior of pile embankments under traffic loads. The paper compares the different behaviour of piled embankment under embankment loads and traffic loads. Finally, the relevant computing methods are presented.