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Behavior of an Embankment on Column–Slab Improved Clay Deposit

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Abstract

The performance of an embankment constructed on a cement deep mixing-formed column–slab system improved soft clay deposit was analyzed using field measurements and finite element simulation results. By back-fitting the measured surface settlement curve, it was interpreted that parts of the columns might have failed in compression, and the field mobilized compressive strength was lower than the designed value. Further, the numerical results indicate that some of the columns under the toe of the embankment failed by bending, but the current design method used in Japan does not check for this failure mechanism. In addition, for a soil–cement slab constructed on the ground surface, under a relatively high embankment load, tensile cracks will most likely form in the slab. Therefore, it is suggested that in design, the main function of the slab can be considered for reducing the differential settlement between columns and the surrounding soils; the strength of the slab may be ignored in stability analysis.

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Abbreviations

C c :

Compression index

C k :

Constant value

c′:

Effective cohesion (kPa)

e :

Void ratio

e 0 :

Initial void ratio

E :

Young’s modulus (kPa)

I :

Second moment of cross-sectional area (m4)

k h :

Permeability in the horizontal direction (m/s)

k v :

Permeability in the vertical direction (m/s)

k 0 :

Initial permeability (m/day)

K 0 :

Coefficient of earth pressure at rest

M :

Slope of the critical state line in the p′–q plot

M max :

Maximum bending moment (kN m)

OCR:

Overconsolidation ratio

p c :

Maximum consolidation pressure (kPa)

p′:

Effective mean stress (kPa)

q :

Deviator stress (kPa)

q u :

Unconfined compressive strength (kPa)

s u :

Undrained shear strength (kPa)

w l :

Liquid limit (%)

w n :

Natural water content (%)

w p :

Plastic limit (%)

y :

Distance from the moment axis to the edge of the cross-sectional area (m)

γ t :

Total unit weight (kN/m3)

κ :

Slope of the rebound line in the e-ln(p′) plot

λ :

Value of slope of consolidation line in the e-ln(p′) plot

ν :

Poisson’s ratio

σ t :

Tensile strength (kPa)

σ′va :

Average axial stress in the column (kPa)

ϕ′:

Effective internal friction angle (°)

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Acknowledgements

The field-measured data reported in this article are from the Ariake Sea Coastal Road Development Office (ASCRDO), Saga Prefecture, Japan. We are very grateful for the generosity of ASCRDO to allow the publication of the field-measured data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Jinchun Chai & Yitian Lu

  2. JIP Techno Science Corporation, Tokyo, Japan

    Takemasa Uchikoshi

Authors
  1. Jinchun Chai
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  2. Yitian Lu
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  3. Takemasa Uchikoshi
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Correspondence to Jinchun Chai.

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Chai, J., Lu, Y. & Uchikoshi, T. Behavior of an Embankment on Column–Slab Improved Clay Deposit. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 4, 34 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-018-0151-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-018-0151-9

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