Piled embankments - Behaviour of geosynthetic basal reinforcement in condition of change of soft soil reaction

Foundation of embankments on piled subsoil is one of the most popular solution with soft soil conditions. In foundation system - piles are topped with one or more horizontal layers of geosynthetic reinforcement called – basal reinforcement. Due to geosynthetic reinforcement – a part of vertical load from area between piles is transferred to the bearing elements. Behaviour of basal reinforcement depends on many factors, like arrangement and dimensions of piles or caps, external loads, properties of mineral filling and geosynthetic reinforcement. One of the most important element is reaction of soft soil. Due to creeping behaviour of basal reinforcement and changes of loaded soil properties in time – taking into account a constant soil reaction is not appropriate solution at the design stage. The article presents the issue of changes in soil properties over time and their impact on the behaviour of the basal reinforcement. The predictions of reinforcement behaviour were made using the most currently popular and accepted design models.