A Three Dimensional Simplified Method for Analysis of Soil Arching Effect in the Pile-supported Embankments

To improve the understanding of the soil aching effect in the embankment fill, a series of model tests and finite element analysis were carried out. It is found that for low fill height relative to the net pile spacing, H/s－a≤1, the failure surface is vertical or slightly inclined which starts from the pile edge and goes through the whole fill height. For H/s－a≥1.5, the developed bulb shaped rupture surface is located near the pile head and can be approximated as a logarithmic spiral surface. By using the failure surface shape determined from the model test and FEM analyses, a three dimensional simplified method to evaluate the soil arching effect was proposed. The computed results were compared with FEM results and the experimental data collected from literatures, it is found that the present simplified method can predict reliable results.     

Dynamic Behavior of Geogrid Reinforced Pile Supported Embankments under Moving Load

In order to investigate the dynamic behavior of geogrid reinforced pile supported embankments (GRPS) under moving load, a three dimensional coupled mechanical and hydraulic model was built by FLAC 3D. The results from two cases including unreinforced and no pile embankments, and geogrid reinforced pile supported embankments were presented. The behaviors of vertical displacement, pile soil stress ratio, excess pore water pressure, and vertical acceleration under two cases were compared and discussed. Additionally, studies on the effect of speed and weight of the moving load were performed. It is indicated that the value of vertical displacement, pile soil stress ratio, excess pore water pressure, and vertical acceleration of GRPS decrease evidently compared with those of unreinforced and no pile embankment, which is caused by the soil arching effect and the reinforcement effect. It is also shown that the greater the axle load value is, the less the beneficial effect of GRPS on the vertical displacement. With the increase of the moving speed of the load, the vertical displacement increases.