Case History: Finite Element Analysis of Time Dependent Settlement of Lake Jessup Bridge Embankment in Central Florida

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was performed to evaluate time dependent settlement of a three-stage approach embankment of Lake Jessup Bridge in Central Florida. The subsoil consisted of fine silty to clayey sands with interbedded shallow clays. FEA was performed utilizing Mohr-Coulomb and Soft Soil Creep models, which captured settlement and pore water pressure profiles during construction stages. The Soft Soil Creep model provided better predictions for the long term secondary settlement. Settlement plates were installed to monitor the in-field settlement during and after construction. The monitoring program continued for 8 months, at which, settlement rates substantially decreased. The recorded settlement-time profile was in general agreement with the settlement profile predicted using numerical analysis.