Spring-Based Trapdoor Tests Investigating Soil Arching Stability in Embankment Fill under Localized Surface Loading
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 9
Abstract
Pile-supported (PS) embankments have been used increasingly to support highways and railways on soft subsoils. In addition to the self-weight of the embankment, this embankment system is often subjected to surface localized loading, such as traffic loading. In this embankment system, soil arching is a key load transfer mechanism. Stability of soil arching under localized surface loading is important because traffic loading applied on the embankment surface can transfer onto and between pile heads and affect the degree of mobilization and degradation of soil arching. Conventional trapdoor systems have a rigid trapdoor, control its displacement manually/automatically, and cannot represent load-induced subsoil settlement below the embankment. This study utilized a trapdoor supported on low-stiffness or high-stiffness compression springs that moved under the load above the trapdoor (called a spring-based trapdoor) to evaluate the effects of continuous trapdoor displacement on the soil arching stability under static footing loading. To investigate the trapdoor rigidity effect, a trapdoor consisting of three segments (called a flexible trapdoor) was utilized in this study as well. The trapdoor test results showed that soil arching was mobilized during fill placement as the fill height and the trapdoor displacement increased. Subsequently, under static footing loading, the degree of soil arching increased at a low applied pressure; however, it degraded under higher footing loading that caused a larger trapdoor displacement. The high-stiffness trapdoor increased the degradation pressure required to eliminate soil arching even though it reduced the degree of soil arching under a low applied pressure compared with the low-stiffness trapdoor. The flexible trapdoor resulted in a uniform stress distribution on the trapdoor but reduced the total load transferred to the supports. The conventional trapdoor resulted in a lower soil arching ratio compared with the spring-based trapdoor during the soil arching mobilization, but had a higher soil arching degradation rate than the spring-based trapdoor due to continuous soil movement.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
Laboratory technician Kent Dye of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas provided his technical support during the fabrication of the box and laboratory testing. The help of Dr. Saif Jawad in conducting the experimental tests of this study is appreciated.
References
Al-Naddaf, M. 2017. “Investigation of soil arching stability under static and cyclic surface loading using trapdoor model tests.” M.Sc. thesis, Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Univ. of Kansas.
Al-Naddaf, M. 2019. “Investigation of soil arching under different modes of soil movement and surface loading.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, Univ. of Kansas.
Al-Naddaf, M., J. Han, S. Jawad, G. Abdulrasool, and C. Xu. 2017. “Investigation of stability of soil arching under surface loading using trapdoor model tests.” In Proc., 19th Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 889–892. London: International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.
Al-Naddaf, M., J. Han, C. Xu, S. Jawad, and G. Abdulrasool. 2019. “Experimental investigation of soil arching mobilization and degradation under localized surface loading.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (12): 04019114. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002190.
Al-Naddaf, M., J. Han, C. Xu, and S. M. Rahmaninezhad. 2018. “Effect of geofoam on vertical stress distribution on buried structures subjected to static and cyclic footing loads.” J. Pipeline Syst. Eng. Pract. 10 (1): 04018027. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)PS.1949-1204.0000355.
ASTM. 2011. Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (unified soil classification system). West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2014a. Standard test methods for maximum index density and unit weight of soils using a vibratory table. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2014b. Standard test methods for minimum index density and unit weight of soils and calculation of relative density. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Atkinson, J., and D. Potts. 1977. “Stability of a shallow circular tunnel in cohesionless soil.” Géotechnique 27 (2): 203–215. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1977.27.2.203.
Bhandari, A., and J. Han. 2010. “Investigation of geotextile–soil interaction under a cyclic vertical load using the discrete element method.” Geotext. Geomembr. 28 (1): 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2009.09.005.
Bhandari, A., and J. Han. 2018. “Two-dimensional physical modelling of soil displacements above trapdoors.” Geotech. Res. 5 (2): 68–80. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgere.18.00002.
BSI (British Standards Institution). 2010. Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils and other fills. BS 8006. London: BSI.
Chen, Y. M., W. P. Cao, and R. P. Chen. 2008. “An experimental investigation of soil arching within basal reinforced and unreinforced piled embankments.” Geotext. Geomembr. 26 (1): 164–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2007.05.004.
Chevalier, B., G. Combe, and P. Villard. 2012. “Experimental and discrete element modeling studies of the trapdoor problem: influence of the macro-mechanical frictional parameters.” Acta Geotech. 7 (1): 15–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-011-0152-5.
Collin, J. G., C. H. Watson, and J. Han. 2005. “Column-supported embankment solves time constraint for new road construction.” In Vol. 131 of Proc., Geo-Frontiers Congress. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Costa, Y. D., J. G. Zornberg, B. S. Bueno, and C. L. Costa. 2009. “Failure mechanisms in sand over a deep active trapdoor.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 135 (11): 1741–1753. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000134.
CUR. 2016. Design guideline basal reinforced piled embankments. CUR 226. Delft, Netherlands: CRC Press.
EBGEO. 2011. Recommendations for design and analysis of earth structures using geosynthetic reinforcements—EBGEO. Berlin: German Geotechnical Society, Wilhelm Ernst & Sohn.
Evans, C. H. 1983. An examination of arching in granular soils. Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Han, J., and M. Gabr. 2002. “Numerical analysis of geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported earth platforms over soft soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 128 (1): 44–53. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2002)128:1(44).
Han, J., F. Wang, M. Al-Naddaf, and C. Xu. 2017. “Progressive development of two-dimensional soil arching with displacement.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (12): 04017112. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001025.
Han, J., F. Wang, C. Xu, and M. Al-Naddaf. 2016. “Fully-mobilized soil arching versus partially-mobilized soil arching.” In Proc., 2016 Int. Conf. on Transportation Infrastructure and Materials. Lancaster, PA: DEStech Publications.
Harris, G. 1974. “A sandbox model used to examine the stress distribution around a simulated longwall coal-face.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr. 11 (8): 325–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(74)91762-8.
Hewlett, W. J., and M. F. Randolph. 1988. “Analysis of piled embankments.” Ground Eng. 21 (3): 12–18.
Iglesia, G. R., H. H. Einstein, and R. V. Whitman. 1999. “Determination of vertical loading on underground structures based on an arching evolution concept.” In Geo-Engineering for underground facilities, 495–506. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Iglesia, G. R., H. H. Einstein, and R. V. Whitman. 2014. “Investigation of soil arching with centrifuge tests.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 140 (2): 04013005. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000998.
Jenck, O., G. Combe, F. Emeriault, and A. De Pasquale. 2014. “Arching effect in a granular soil subjected to monotonic or cyclic loading: A kinematic analysis.” In Proc., 8th Int. Conf. on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 1243–1249. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
King, D. J., A. Bouazza, J. R. Gniel, R. K. Rowe, and H. H. Bui. 2017. “Serviceability design for geosynthetic reinforced column supported embankments.” Geotext. Geomembr. 45 (Mar): 261–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2017.02.006.
Koutsabeloulis, N., and D. Griffiths. 1989. “Numerical modelling of the trap door problem.” Géotechnique 39 (1): 77–89. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1989.39.1.77.
Ladanyi, B., and B. Hoyaux. 1969. “A study of the trap-door problem in a granular mass.” Can. Geotech. J. 6 (8): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1139/t69-001.
Low, B. K., S. K. Tang, and V. Choa. 1994. “Arching in piled embankments.” J. Geotech. Eng. 120 (11): 1917–1938. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1994)120:11(1917).
McNulty, J. W. 1965. An experimental study of arching in sand. Rep. No. I-674. Washington, DC: USACE.
Pardo, G. S., and E. Sáez. 2014. “Experimental and numerical study of arching soil effect in coarse sand.” Comput. Geotech. 57 (4): 75–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2014.01.005.
Rui, R., J. Han, S. J. M. van Eekelen, and Y. Wan. 2019. “Experimental investigation of soil-arching development in unreinforced and geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 145 (1): 04018103. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002000.
Rui, R., A. van Tol, Y. Xia, S. van Eekelen, and G. Hu. 2016b. “Investigation of soil-arching development in dense sand by 2D model tests.” Geotech. Test. J. 39 (3): 415–430. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20150130.
Rui, R., F. van Tol, X.-L. Xia, S. van Eekelen, G. Hu, and Y.-Y. Xia. 2016a. “Evolution of soil arching: 2D DEM simulations.” Comput. Geotech. 73 (12): 199–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.12.006.
Rui, R., F. van Tol, Y.-Y. Xia, S. van Eekelen, and G. Hu. 2018. “Evolution of soil arching: 2D analytical models.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (6): 04018056. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001169.
Shen, P., C. Xu, and J. Han. 2020. “Centrifuge tests to investigate global performance of geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments with side slopes.” Geotext. Geomembr. 48 (1): 120–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2019.103527.
Sloan, S., A. Assadi, and N. Purushothaman. 1990. “Undrained stability of a trapdoor.” Géotechnique 40 (1): 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.1.45.
Terzaghi, K. 1936. “Stress distribution in dry and in saturated sand above a yielding trap-door.” In Proc., 1st Int. Conf. on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 307–311. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ.
Terzaghi, K. 1943. Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley.
van Eekelen, S. J. M., A. Bezuijen, H. J. Lodder, and A. F. van Tol. 2012a. “Model experiments on piled embankments.” Geotext. Geomembr. 32 (5): 69–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2011.11.002.
van Eekelen, S. J. M., A. Bezuijen, H. J. Lodder, and A. F. van Tol. 2012b. “Model experiments on piled embankments. Part II.” Geotext. Geomembr. 32 (2): 82–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2011.11.003.
van Eekelen, S. J. M., A. Bezuijen, and A. F. van Tol. 2013. “An analytical model for arching in piled embankments” Geotext. Geomembr. 39 (7): 78–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2013.07.005.
van Eekelen, S. J. M., and J. Han. 2020. “Geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments: State of the art.” Geosynth. Int. 27 (2): 112–141. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.20.00005.
Xu, C., S. T. Song, and J. Han. 2016. “Large-scale model tests on influencing factors of geosynthetic- reinforced and pile-supported embankments.” Geosynth. Int. 23 (2): 140–153. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.15.00038.
Xu, C., X. Zhang, J. Han, and Y. Yang. 2019. “Two-dimensional soil-arching behavior under static and cyclic loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 19 (8): 04019091. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001482.
Zhang, Z., F. Tao, G. Ye, J. Han, C. Xu, and L. Liu. 2018. “Physical models to investigate soil arching phenomena under cyclic footing loading using transparent soil.” In Proc., GeoShanghai Int. Conf., 792–801. Singapore: Springer.
Zhang, Z., F.-J. Tao, J. Han, G.-B. Ye, B.-N. Chen, and L. Liu. 2021a. “Influence of surface footing loading on soil arching above multiple buried structures in transparent sand.” Can. J. Civ. Eng. 48 (2): 124–133. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2019-0352.
Zhang, Z., F.-J. Tao, J. Han, G.-B. Ye, B.-N. Chen, and C. Xu. 2021b. “Arching development in transparent soil during multiple trapdoor movement and surface footing loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 21 (3): 04020262. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001908.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 9 • September 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 9, 2020
Accepted: May 6, 2021
Published online: Jun 28, 2021
Published in print: Sep 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Nov 28, 2021
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.
Cited by
- Geye Li, Chao Xu, Chungsik Yoo, Panpan Shen, Tianhang Wang, Chongxi Zhao, Effect of geogrid reinforcement on the load transfer in pile-supported embankment under cyclic loading, Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 10.1016/j.geotexmem.2022.10.004, 51, 1, (151-164), (2023).
- Jie Zhou, Ling Zhang, Shuai Zhou, Mengchao Deng, Investigation of the effect of cyclic loading on the soil arching using damped spring-based trapdoor model, Computers and Geotechnics, 10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105279, 156, (105279), (2023).
- G. Li, C. Xu, C. Yoo, P. Shen, T. Wang, Q. Wang, Effects of reinforcement arrangements on load transfer in spring-based trapdoor tests, Geosynthetics International, 10.1680/jgein.22.00265, (1-17), (2022).
- Ning Bao, Jing Wei, Jian-feng Chen, Rui Sun, Interaction of Soil Arching under Trapdoor Condition: Insights from 2D Discrete-Element Analysis, International Journal of Geomechanics, 10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0002346, 22, 6, (2022).
- Fengwen Lai, Jim Shiau, Suraparb Keawsawasvong, Fuquan Chen, Rungkhun Banyong, Sorawit Seehavong, Physics-based and data-driven modeling for stability evaluation of buried structures in natural clays, Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.07.006, (2022).
- Chonglei Zhang, Lijun Su, Guanlu Jiang, Full-scale model tests of load transfer in geogrid-reinforced and floating pile-supported embankments, Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 10.1016/j.geotexmem.2022.05.004, 50, 5, (896-909), (2022).
- Rui Rui, Yu-qiu Ye, Jie Han, Yu-xin Zhai, Yi Wan, Cheng Chen, Lei Zhang, Two-dimensional soil arching evolution in geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments over voids, Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 10.1016/j.geotexmem.2021.09.003, 50, 1, (82-98), (2022).
- Ling Zhang, Jie Zhou, Shuai Zhou, Zeyu Xu, Numerical spring-based trapdoor test on soil arching in pile-supported embankment, Computers and Geotechnics, 10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.104765, 148, (104765), (2022).
- Dashuai Zhang, Xingli Zhang, Haotian Tang, Zhiqiang Zhao, Jing Guo, Honghua Zhao, Effects of soil arching on behavior of composite pile supporting foundation pit, Computational Particle Mechanics, 10.1007/s40571-022-00518-1, (2022).