Full-Scale Tests on Embankments Founded on Piled Beams
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 12
Abstract
Full-scale tests were performed on embankments with a beam foundation supported by floating and end-bearing piles. An analytical model based on the soil arching mechanism appeared to be able to predict accurately the vertical load transferred to a group of beams at a small center-to-center distance. However, when the distance between the beams was too wide or the embankment was too low to mobilize soil arching, the vertical load transferred to a beam could be predicted accurately with a model based on the punching shear mechanism. Greater embankment loads could be transferred to a piled beam through soil arching than could be transferred through punching shear. Beams in a piled embankment should be placed sufficiently close to each other to allow application of the soil arching model for design. Embankment loads could be transferred to both floating and end-bearing piles. Although load-transfer behavior was similar, the settlement of floating piles was significantly larger than the settlement of end-bearing piles. Settlement in a piled embankment could be reduced considerably by the application of end-bearing piles with a group of beams at a small center-to-center distance.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Mid-Career Researcher Program (Grant No. 20140201) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 12 • December 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 31, 2013
Accepted: Apr 17, 2014
Published online: Aug 13, 2014
Published in print: Dec 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 13, 2015
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