Off-site prefabrication can bring cost, quality and programme benefits to construction projects but often requires the transportation of large, indivisible loads (in the order of 1000-10 000 t) on temporary routes that can cross soft soils. Through simple numerical modelling, this paper demonstrates that the fundamental behaviour of the ground supporting these large loads can differ significantly from that expected in conventional road design practice; the interaction between many closely spaced wheels means the vehicle's influence depth and failure mechanism are significantly deeper. Surface soils are less influential. Deeper soil was found to be more prone to local yield, developing large localised strains at low proportions (10-30%) of the ultimate capacity. Instead of designing temporary roads to avoid yield and degradation under cyclic loads, significant savings may be possible if limited degradation is permitted, with recovery through consolidation between loads. Investigation and monitoring of deep subsoils during operations is recommended for real-time evaluation of geotechnical risk. Notation

Extraction of resources in remote locations can require temporary haul roads to transport extremely large, slow-moving, indivisible loads (e.g., plant, oil–gas production modules, and reactors, weighing in excess of 1000 t) without interruptions. Poor subgrade soils may experience larger cyclic strains and greater cyclic degradation under these conditions than under conventional roads, yet the short engineering life precludes many foundation-strengthening options due to cost. As there is little research into this unique situation, this paper synthesizes research from a broad range of applications to discuss implications on expected soil response. Reference is made to critical state theory and discrete element method (DEM) modelling to develop fundamental concepts considering particle-scale interactions. Cyclic failure is proposed to be a kinematically unstable process, triggered by shear banding on the Hvorslev surface, tensile liquefaction or fabric-governed meta-stable liquefaction; the latter is particularly influenced by stress history and anisotropy. This paper finds pore-water pressure accumulation under load and dissipation between loads are key to cyclic degradation and furthermore to be dependent upon load duration, principal stress rotation, and repetition frequency. For meta-stable, liquefiable soils in particular, inclination of principal stresses is at least as important in assessing failure risk as magnitude of stresses.

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Transporting of extremely large indivisible loads (10 000–30 000 t) is becoming increasingly popular to allow offsite modular construction of infrastructure for oil and gas, mining, and renewable energy projects in remote areas. Such exceptionally large transient loads could encounter unusual geohazards: there is a risk of metastable liquefaction when crossing soft alluvium, causing sudden failure, potential casualties, and severe production delays. Furthermore, temporary roads for these payloads are a large cost to such projects; conventionally designed earthworks and (or) ground improvement are often unaffordable or logistically impossible. This laboratory study indicates the fabric can be strengthened, and the hazard reduced, if the soil is subjected to careful repeated loading that rearranges the initially precarious fabric through gradual accumulation of plastic strains. A novel remediation technique for these temporary haul roads is proposed: managed deployment of increasingly heavy haul vehicles could result in staged fabric rearrangement that strengthens the soil to the point where it would be safe for the heavy vehicles to use it. In so doing, a more economic temporary haul road is open to operations (coupled with observation methods to ensure adequate performance throughout) and production activities are not overly disrupted.