On the construction rate of Geosynthetic-Reinforced and Pile-Supported Embankments

Geosynthetic-Reinforced and Pile-Supported Embankments are conventionally designed with simplified limit-equilibrium theories that prioritize ultimate limit state analysis. However, these methodologies exhibit a significant limitation in their inability to quantify the progressive settlement at the embankment crest during the construction phase, which is a critical phase in the occurrence of the soil arching mechanism. Recent advancements in the field have introduced a displacement-based mathematical model which can assess settlements, stresses, and geosynthetic forces during embankment construction with minimal computational effort. This paper compares full-scale test data with this mathematical model to examine the impact of embankment construction rate on the evolution of settlements during construction.