Measured and simulated results of a Kenaf Limited Life Geosynthetics (LLGs) reinforced test embankment on soft clay

Abstract For the first time, woven Kenaf Limited Life Geosynthetics (LLGs) were used for short term reinforcement of full scale embankment constructed on soft clay and their behavior is presented. The observed data in terms of settlements, excess pore water pressures and deformations or stresses in the reinforcements were compared with the simulated data. Two types of Kenaf LLGs were utilized, namely: coated and not coated with polyurethane. The coating can reduce water absorption and increase their life time. Subsequently, numerical simulations were performed on the behavior of Kenaf LLGs reinforced embankment using 2D and 3D finite element software. The rates of settlement from FEM 2D method overestimated the observed settlements data while the FEM 3D predictions agreed with observed settlements due to the three-dimensional geometrical loading of the embankment with length to width ratio (L/B) of 1.0. Regarding the maximum excess pore-water pressures at the locations of 3 m and 6 m depth, the FEM 2D analyses overestimated while the FEM 3D simulation yielded satisfactory agreement with the observed data. The reinforcement deformations and stresses in both coated and non-coated Kenaf LLGs reinforcement have higher values at the middle portions of the embankment and the predicted results from FEM 3D simulation yielded closer deformations of Kenaf LLGs reinforced than the FEM 2D simulation. Consequently, FEM 3D simulation captured the overall behavior of the Kenaf LLGs reinforced embankment with more reasonable agreement between the field observations and the predicted values compared to the FEM 2D simulation. The behavior of the sections on coated and non-coated LLGs were similar. The Kenaf LLGs can be applied for short term embankment reinforcement in order to improve the stability of embankment on soft clay.

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