Practical Nonlinear Prediction Model for Uneven Settlement of an Enlarged Levee Crest

Pavement cracking induced by uneven settlement at the junction of an enlarged levee crest (ELC) is a potential source of risks. The uneven settlement of an enlarged levee crest is nonlinear, and the existing method cannot well depict the nonlinear characteristics. To better predict the uneven settlement, the applicability of the settlement formula for half-excavation and half-filling of the roadbed in pavement widening engineering was modified by the measured and calculated data. To improve the nonlinear characterization ability of the modified settlement formula, the parameter a in the settlement formula was nonlinearized using a new foundation coefficient under the nonlinear elastic foundation beam theory. The rationality of the new foundation coefficient was discussed. The practical nonlinear prediction model for the uneven settlement of the enlarged levee crest was presented. The physical meanings and determination of all parameters were explained. The rationality of the practical nonlinear prediction model was verified through experiments. The practical nonlinear prediction model of this paper can better characterize the nonlinear settlement characteristics compared with the literature formula. Parameter sensitivity analysis shows that under the same uniformly distributed loads, there exists a ratio that maximizes the uneven settlement of the ELC.