Overall slope stability of prestressed geosynthetic-reinforced embankments on soft ground

摘要

ABSTRACT: This Technical Note presents the derivation of an expression for the factor of safetynwith respect to the overall slope stability of a prestressed geosynthetic-reinforced embankmentnresting on soft ground. A detailed parametric study is carried out to observe the effect on thenfactor of safety of prestressing the geosynthetic reinforcement. It is found that prestressing thengeosynthetic reinforcement is more beneficial for soft ground than stiff ground when the foundationnsoil is much more shallow than the height of the embankment. If the mobilised tensile force isnlower than the required value for overall slope stability, which is typical at the end of embankmentnconstruction, prestressing the geosynthetic proves to be effective in providing overall slope stability.nRelatively steep side slopes of embankments can be provided by prestressing the geosyntheticnreinforcement. The beneficial effect of prestressing is more significant for cohesionless embankmentnsoil than for cohesive soil.