Numerical modelling of geosynthetic reinforced fills over voids

Voids may form under thin fills and embankments due to karstic terrain, mining operations, permafrost thawing, pipe failure or local subsidence at the surface of a landfill closure. A strategy that can be used in anticipation of void formation is to introduce a geosynthetic reinforcement layer at the base of the fill at the time of construction that can temporarily support the fill over the void until remediation. This paper describes a series of numerical models of the reinforced fill over a void problem using the finite difference method (program 2DFLAC). The rate-dependent hyperbolic isochronous load-strain model for the reinforcement developed by the writers is used to model the polymeric geosynthetic reinforcement layer.