Geosynthetic-reinforced embankments on soft soils : numerical analysis of the strain mobilization in the reinforcement at failure, service condition and staged construction

• Main Author: Edwin Fernando Ruiz Blanco
• Other Authors: Delma de Mattos Vidal
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica 2013
• Subjects: Aterros; Solos; Geossintéticos; Mecânica dos solos; Método de elementos finitos; Engenharia geotécnica; Engenharia civil
• Online Access: http://www.bd.bibl.ita.br/tde_busca/arquivo.php?codArquivo=2780

In this dissertation, the behavior of geosynthetic reinforced embankments constructed on soft cohesive foundations under undrained and partially drained conditions is examined by conducting a rigorous numerical analysis using the finite element method for some particular case studies. Special attention is given to the mobilized strains in the geosynthetic reinforcement at embankment failure, short and long-term working conditions state and during staged construction considering the influence of the time-dependency of the system in terms of construction rate, excess pore pressure dissipation and viscous deformations in the soil foundation (i.e., creep). The effects of reinforcement stiffness and adopted constitutive model are also investigated. The obtained results highlight the importance of assessing the allowable compatible reinforcement strain at failure and taking into account this soil-reinforcement interaction. It is illustrated the significant combined influence of consolidation process and soft soil creep deformation on the numerically observed embankment performance at working conditions, particularly in terms of mobilized reinforcements strains. Finally, an approximate approach for studying numerically staged constructed embankments is presented, pointing out the adequate definitions of Limit States for the considered stages and the effects of time in the embankment behavior.