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Influence of geosynthetic reinforcement on the progressive failure of rigid columns under an embankment load

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Abstract

Prior investigations have revealed that the stress characteristics of columns at different locations beneath an embankment vary. A failed column releases stress and causes significant increases in the stresses within neighbouring columns, possibly leading to progressive failure of adjacent columns and global failure of the embankment. Prior studies have presented insights into the progressive failure of column-supported embankments. However, limited insight has been provided into the progressive failure mechanism of geosynthetic-reinforced and rigid column-supported embankments. In this technical note, the effects of geosynthetic reinforcement on progressive failure are numerically analysed. A comparison of the progressive failure of rigid columns with and without geosynthetic reinforcement is first conducted. The restraining effects of geosynthetics on progressive failure of the columns and the influence of geosynthetic tensile stiffness on embankment stability are analysed. The results reveal that progressive failure is primarily governed by the distribution of the bending moment and the axial force within the columns. To further investigate the contribution of geosynthetics to resisting progressive failure of rigid columns, the internal forces in the columns and tensile strains in the geosynthetics are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52078337 and 41630641). The authors appreciate the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Xiaoxuan Yu, Gang Zheng & Haizuo Zhou

  2. Key Laboratory of Coast Civil Structure Safety, Tianjin University, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Xiaoxuan Yu, Gang Zheng & Haizuo Zhou

  3. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Gang Zheng

  4. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Jinchun Chai

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  1. Xiaoxuan Yu
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  2. Gang Zheng
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  3. Haizuo Zhou
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  4. Jinchun Chai
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Correspondence to Haizuo Zhou.

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Yu, X., Zheng, G., Zhou, H. et al. Influence of geosynthetic reinforcement on the progressive failure of rigid columns under an embankment load. Acta Geotech. 16, 3005–3012 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01160-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01160-6

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