Comparative Analysis of Settlement and Pore Water Pressure of Road Embankment on Yan soft soil Treated with PVDs

Abstract

The application of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) in the road embankment construction has been successfully performed in many projects throughout the country. The simulation of finite element method (FEM) can assist engineers in modelling very complex structures and foundations. This paper presents a plane–strain numerical analysis that was performed to verify the effectiveness of the model embankment stabilised with PVD using Plaxis 2D version 8. This study employed the smear effect of permeability ratio (kr) of 3 in the PVD modelling. The data of settlement and pore water pressure in the left and right sides of road embankment were monitored for 177 days, then the data were collected and compared by a numerical simulation. The coefficient of determination (R2) was used to assess the performance of the comparative analysis. The results of numerical simulation on settlement and pore water pressure obtained a coefficient of determination of greater than 0.9 which has reached a good agreement with those of the field measurement. On other the hand, there was no significant difference in the performance between both sides of the embankment. The smear effect parameter (kr = 3) is recommended for PVD designs and can provide accurate FEM prediction.

Stability Assessment of Embankment on Soft Soil Improved with Prefabricated Vertical Drains Using Empirical and Limit Equilibrium Approaches

“…Due to the rapid growth of software technology and the increasing popularity of the limit equilibrium method in geotechnical engineering, it is now practicable to perform a comprehensive numerical study of the soft soil behaviour stabilized with multiple vertical drains. Two-dimensional plane strain analysis is widely used for simplicity in the field of slope stability [3], [17], [23]. The two-dimensional slope stability analysis of LEM is considered to be a statically indeterminate problem, and an evaluation of the safety factor (FOS) involves assumptions on the internal force distribution [24].…”

“…Poor soil characteristic can cause excessive settlement, causing undrained infrastructure failure if proper soil improvement is not performed [2]. Hence it is important to apply appropriate ground improvement techniques to existing soft soils prior to construction in order to avoid inappropriate excessive and unequal settling along with improving the bearing capacity of the foundations [3]. One of the effective soil improvement techniques practised worldwide is the installation of prefabricated vertical drains (PVD).…”

2D Numerical Analysis of Prefabricated Vertical Drains Using Different Matching Methods

“…Therefore, sophisticated numerical approaches, like Finite Element Analysis (FEA), are highly beneficial. In the design phase, engineers tend to prefer numerical methods, as it can reduce project costs and duration when compared to analytical approaches [26]. Moreover, this approach can help engineers solve extremely complex soil, as well as for its overall ability to model deformations and to determine collapse [26,27].…”

“…In the design phase, engineers tend to prefer numerical methods, as it can reduce project costs and duration when compared to analytical approaches [26]. Moreover, this approach can help engineers solve extremely complex soil, as well as for its overall ability to model deformations and to determine collapse [26,27]. Apart from the numerical simulations, geotechnical engineering researchers have created and used artificial intelligence (AI) approaches over the last three decades.…”

Study on Optimization of Design Parameters for Precast Pipe Pile Treatment of Soft Soil Subgrade on the Jianghan Plain

“…As China's transportation infrastructure develops rapidly, the construction of highways continues [1] [2]. Currently, major issues limiting social development and the increase in human activities and traffic trips include the scale and condition of current roadways, since many roads have long been in a dilapidated condition and can no longer meet people's travel needs, posing enormous challenges to the carrying capacity of public roads [3] [4] [5].…”