German Recommendations for Reinforced Embankments on Pile-Similar Elements

The construction of embankments on soft underground is a common problem. In recent years a new kind of foundation, the so-called “geosynthetic reinforced pile-supported embankment”, was established. Until now the system behaviour can only be described analytically by simplified geomechanical models. Furthermore, there are simplified calculation procedures, which allow the dimensioning of the geosynthetic reinforcement. In the course of the revision of the EBGEO (German Recommendations for Geosynthetic Reinforced Earth Structures), new recommendations for soil reinforcements above pile-similar elements under static loading were worked out. These new developed analytical methods represent a new State-of-the-Art and enable a realistic and suitable approximation of the bearing behaviour of the composite structure.