Field and numerical studies on the performance of high embankment built on soft soil reinforced with PHC piles

摘要

The performance of 40 m-high embankment built on soft soil reinforced with PHC piles is investigated based on a case study of highway construction. A series of field tests was conducted including pile head loads, settlements and lateral displacements, and a three-dimensional numerical model was developed accordingly. The results show maximum horizontal displacement happens in the mid-region between the toe and centerline of the embankment where soil may flow around piles, which is likely to cause bending failure of the piles. When the fifth-stage fill is applied, both the monitored data and numerical simulation imply the potential development of slip planes.