Behaviour of reinforced embankments on soft rate-sensitive soils

The behaviour of reinforced embankments constructed over rate-sensitive soft foundation soils is studied. Factors such as the viscoplastic properties and hydraulic conductivity of the soil, reinforcement stiffness and construction rate are examined. The time-dependent responses of excess pore pressures, reinforcement strains and foundation deformations are investigated. The short-term embankment stability is of particular interest. The construction of reinforced embankments to the height determined based on a limit equilibrium design is simulated to examine the assumptions made in the conventional undrained analysis. It is shown that creep and stress-relaxation of viscoplastic soils after the end of embankment construction may be significant for rate-sensitive soils. The embankment stability is shown to be critical during creep and stress-relaxation of foundation soils after construction. The undrained shear strength measured in laboratory triaxial tests using currently recommended strain rates without an...

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