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An Analysis of Floating Geogrid-Reinforced Pile-Supported Embankments Containing Deep Softened Soil

  • Research Article-Civil Engineering
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Abstract

Floating geogrid-reinforced piles provide economic solutions when constructing embankments over areas with soft soil. The combination of piles and geogrids allows for the transfer of stress between the piles and adjacent soil through soil arching and tensioned membrane effects. Furthermore, floating geogrid-reinforced pile foundations can also significantly reduce embankment settlement. However, it has been found that in many cases, the ends of the piles may not be anchored due to layers of thick softened soil. Therefore, reduced scale model tests and numerical simulations were conducted in the current study for the purpose of evaluating the performances of different types of end-bearing and floating piles. The effects of different parameters were considered, including embankment filling heights; pile spacing ratios; stiffness ratios between the piles and the adjacent subsoil; internal friction angles of the embankment fill; and the effects of the tensile stiffness of the geogrids on the bearing capacities of the embankments. The results showed that the absence of firmly supported layers could transfer loads and reduce settlement. The results of this study’s numerical simulations revealed that enlarging the pile-soil stiffness ratios or tensile stiffness, and improving the shear properties of embankment fill could successfully improve the performances of geogrid-reinforced pile-supported embankments. This study’s findings can potentially be used to guide future analyses of floating pile load transfer mechanisms and settlement patterns.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their appreciation for the financial support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 52002224, the Research Program of Department of Transportation of Shandong Province under Grant No. 2020BZ01-03, the Key Research and Development Program of Shandong Province (No. 2019GSF109045), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province under Grant No. BK2020040226, and the Qilu Yong Scholar Program of Shandong University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Qilu Transportation, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

    Hongbo Zhang, Hao Wang, Weichuan Li, Jianqing Wu, Chen Lv, Xiuguang Song & Mingpeng Liu

  2. Shangdong Hi-Speed Company Limited, Co. Ltd, Jinan, 250061, China

    Xiaoliang Li

  3. Suzhou Research Institute, Shandong University, Suzhou, 215123, China

    Jianqing Wu

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  1. Hongbo Zhang
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  2. Hao Wang
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  3. Xiaoliang Li
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  4. Weichuan Li
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Correspondence to Jianqing Wu.

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Zhang, H., Wang, H., Li, X. et al. An Analysis of Floating Geogrid-Reinforced Pile-Supported Embankments Containing Deep Softened Soil. Arab J Sci Eng 46, 10855–10868 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-05587-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-05587-7

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