Deformation Analysis of Embankments
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 119, Issue 8
Abstract
Settlement and stability are the primary geotechnical considerations in the design of embankments founded on soft clay. Settlements are inevitably associated with lateral deformations. Lateral flow in turn is an indirect measure of the stability of embankments. Therefore, a detailed study of different settlement components and lateral deformations and their correlations will provide guidelines for an embankment design. This paper presents a new methodology, termed “Field Deformation Analysis (FDA),” which is based on a simple concept dealing with lateral and vertical deformation characteristics of soft foundations under embankment stage loading. This method is used to delineate and quantify different settlement components, namely, immediate settlement, consolidation settlement, and creep settlement, from the total settlement measured during field observations, for the loading and consolidation stages. Finite element method (FEM) of analysis was performed for comparison with FDA results. The FEM analysis was performed using the CRISP computer program, developed at Cambridge University, which uses many soil constitutive models including the modified Cam‐clay model. In 1988, the Malaysian Highway Authority was authorized to build 13 full‐scale test embankments at Muar Flats, of which two were constructed without any foundation ground improvements. A comparison study of the results from FDA and FEM, performed for both the untreated full‐scale test embankments, revealed very good agreement during loading and consolidation stages. In addition, a consistent relationship between the different settlement components was also observed during the different stages of embankment loading.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Balachandran, S. (1990). “Simulation of a test embankment failure (Muar flood plain, Malaysia) using finite element techniques coupled with critical state soil mechanics,” ME thesis, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
2.
Balasubramaniam, A. S., Phin‐wej, N., Indraratna, B., and Bergado, D. T. (1989). “Predicted behavior of a test embankment on a Malaysian marine clay.” Proc. Int. Symp. on Trial Embankments on Malaysian Marine Clays, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2, 1(1)–1(8).
3.
Brand, E. W., and Premchitt, J. (1989). “Moderator's report for the predicted performance of the Muar test embankment.” Proc. Int. Symp. on Trial Embankments on Malaysian Marine Clays, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2, 1(32)–1(49).
4.
Britto, A. M., and Gunn, M. J. (1987). Critical state soil mechanics viafinite elements. Elis Horwood Limited.
5.
Christian, J. T., and Watt, J. B. (1972). “Undrained visco‐elastic analysis of soil deformations. Application of the FEM in Geotechnical Engineering.” Proc. Symp., Vickburk, Mississippi, May, 2, 533–574.
6.
Harr, M. E., and Lovel, C. W. (1963). “Vertical stresses under certain axisymmetrical loading.” Highway Res. Board Record, 39.
7.
Indraratna, B., Balasubramaniam, A. S., and Balachandran, S. (1992). “Performance of test embankment constructed to failure on soft marine clay.” ASCE 118(1).
8.
Marche, R., and Chapuis, R. (1974). “Control of stability of embankments by the measurement of horizontal displacement.” Can. Geotech. J, 11(1), 182–201.
9.
Shibata, T. (1987). “Lateral deformation of clay foundations. Discussion Session 6.” Proc. 8th Asian Regional Conf. on S. M. F. E., Kyoto, 2, 390–391.
10.
Small, J. C., Booker, J. R., and Davis, E. H. (1976). “Elastoplastic consolidation of soil.” Int. J. Solids Struct., 12, 319–326.
11.
Stille, H.,Fredriksson, A., and Broms, B.B. (1976). “Analysis of a test embankment considering the anisotrophy of the soil.” Numerical Methods in Geomechanics, 2, June.
12.
“3 m high control embankment on untreated soft ground.” (1988). Proc. Int. Symp. on Trial Embankments on Malaysian Marine Clays, Kuala Lumpure, 2.
13.
Suzuki, O. (1988). “The lateral flow of soil caused by banking on soft clay ground.” Soils Found., 28(4), 1–18.
14.
Tavenas, F., Mieussens, C., and Bourges, F. (1978). “Lateral displacements in clay foundation under embankments.” Can. Geotech. J., 16, 532–550.
15.
Ting, W. H., Chan, S. F., and Kassim, K. (1989). “Embankments with geogrid and vertical drains.” Proc. Int. Symp. on Trial Embankments on Malaysian Marine Clays, Kuala Lumpur, 2.
16.
Toh, C. T., Chee, S. K., Hudson, R. R., Loh, M. H., and Gue, S. S. (1989). “3 m high control embankment on untreated soft control ground. MHA.” Int. Symp. on Trial Embankments on Malaysian Marine Clays, Kuala Lumpur, 2.
17.
Wroth, C. P. (1977). “The predicted performance of soft clay under a trial embankment loading based on the Cam‐Clay model.” Finite elements in geomechanics, Gudehus, ed.
18.
Yamaguchi, H. (1984). “Effect of depth of embankment on foundation settlement.” Soils Found., 24(1).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 9, 1992
Published online: Aug 1, 1993
Published in print: Aug 1993
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.