The load transfer mechanism in reinforced piled embankment under cyclic loading and unloading

Abstract

The load transfer mechanism is complicated and closely concerned with the control of settlement in Geogrid-reinforced and pile-supported (GRPS) embankments. However, the research on load transfer mechanism in GRPS systems subjected to cyclic loadings and unloading is limited. This paper conducted a finite-element analysis to investigate the load transfer mechanism of GRPS system subjected to cyclic loading and unloading. The settlement and the stress in the embankment both were found redistributed under cyclic load and unloading. Compared with the results under static loads, the maximum settlement at the base of the embankment increased by 23–55% due to cyclic load, while was slightly rebound under unloading. The efficiency in terms of vertical load carried by piles is decreased by 3–14% experienced the cyclic load, whereas 11–26% of the reduction of the efficiency was rebound under unloading. To comprehensively investigate the rebound phenomenon, parametric studies with the variation of velocity, vehicle wheel load, geogrid stiffness and geometry of piled embankment were conducted. It is found that the rebound phenomenon is most apparent as varying the vehicle wheel load (10–48% of the increment of the normalised vertical stress rebounded), which phenomenon will be further strengthened for the larger value of h/s.

Keywords:

• Reinforced piled embankment
• cyclic loading
• unloading
• the load transfer mechanism
• soil arching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The financial support of National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars of China (Grant No.51922029), a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (Grant No.1105007138), the Open Fund of National Engineering Laboratory of Highway Maintenance Technology (Grant No. kfj180106, Changsha University of Science & Technology) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2242019K40066) is acknowledged.