Performance of Reinforced Embankments on Rate-Sensitive Soils under Working Conditions Considering Effect of Reinforcement Viscosity
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 12, Issue 4
Abstract
The long-term performance of embankments with creep susceptible geosynthetics as a basal reinforcement layer over rate-sensitive soils is examined. Various factors, including reinforcement type and stiffness, soil viscosity, construction rate, and allowable long-term reinforcement strain, affecting the time-dependent behavior of reinforced embankments are investigated. Increasing the reinforcement stiffness (for a given allowable strain) allowed construction of higher embankments from a stability perspective; however, it also resulted in larger deformations and potential serviceability issues. Lateral toe spreading, maximum settlement, and differential settlement increased with the increasing rate of construction. Reducing the allowable long-term reinforcement strain proved to be an effective means of limiting embankment deformation. The analyses also showed that if the long-term reinforcement strain can be limited to and combined with the practical rate of construction, the long-term deformations of reinforced embankments can be controlled.
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Acknowledgments
The research reported in this paper was funded by a research grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 12 • Issue 4 • August 2012
Pages: 381 - 390
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 12, 2010
Accepted: Sep 21, 2010
Published online: Sep 24, 2010
Published in print: Aug 1, 2012
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