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Two-Dimensional Experimental and Analytical Investigations of Load Distribution on Piled Embankments

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Abstract

Soil arching occurs when differential movement develops. In geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported embankments, soil arching occurs when the geosynthetic deflects in the area between the piles. Due to the soil arching, a relatively large part of the load (A) is transferred towards the piles directly, which reduces the residual load part (B) exerted on the geosynthetic reinforcement between the piles. This paper presents the results of experiments in a two-dimensional test set-up with analogical soil. The results of the experiments are analysed using analytical calculations. The set-up of tests was designed in a way that it was especially suitable for measuring these two load parts A and B separately. In this research, it was assumed that the subsoil between the piles was so soft that support of subsoil (load part C) is zero. Comparison of analytical calculations and tests just before rupture of the reinforcement showed that the fill height strongly affects the soil arching. For high fills, the vertical load concentrates on the reinforcement closer to the beams, effectively a more or less inverse-triangular load distribution. For relatively thin embankments, the load resembles more a uniform or triangular load distribution. The inverse-triangular load distribution in the higher embankments results in a steeper slope of the reinforcement at the edge of the beam. This makes the reinforcement more effective, so that more load can be transferred through the same reinforcement without rupture.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code Availability

Not applicable.

Notes

  1. Rmax (L = 0.2 mm) = 12.5 μm [20].

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

    Mohammad Fakhrian Nejad, Seyed Hamid Lajevardi & Arash Nayeri

  2. Geo-Engineering Department, Deltares, Delft, Netherlands

    Suzanne J. M. van Eekelen

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  1. Mohammad Fakhrian Nejad
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  2. Seyed Hamid Lajevardi
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  3. Suzanne J. M. van Eekelen
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  4. Arash Nayeri
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Contributions

MFN: making a model of the test device; performing the experiments; analyzing the results and writing the preliminary text of the article. SHL & AN: conceived and designed the experiments; checked the results of the tests; made improvement in interpretations. SJMvE: help in achieving analytical results according to the two-dimensional model of the tests; help in interpreting test results; review and final approval of tests; help in preparation of geosynthetic materials; help in determining the characteristics of geosynthetic materials to perform analysis; help in final review of the figures. Finally, SHL, SJMvE and AN read the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Seyed Hamid Lajevardi.

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Fakhrian Nejad, M., Lajevardi, S.H., van Eekelen, S.J.M. et al. Two-Dimensional Experimental and Analytical Investigations of Load Distribution on Piled Embankments. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 8, 72 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-022-00415-w

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