Experimental study of soil arching of geogrid-reinforced and pile-supported widening embankment

Soil arching is very important for analyzing the stress state of existing and widening embankment and differential settlement between piles (caps) and subsoil. In this paper, the behavior of soil arching is analyzed for a widening embankment which is supported by rigid piles with caps and reinforced by geogrid. Based on the test site of the widening expressway project, earth pressures on caps and subsoil at the bottom and at different depths to fill surface are investigated; and tensile strains of the geogrid are monitored too. Then stress concentration ratios and soil arching ratios are analyzed and compared with several current design methods, including the Guido method, the BS8006 method, the Kempfert method and the Low method. Results show that, a two-dimensional plane soil arching fill load distribution on caps and subsoil within a critical arch height which is deduced to be 2.0 m owing a ratio of 1.4 the pile clear spacing, and is consistent with BS8006. The Guido and BS8006 methods were too conservative on assessing tensile strain of geogrid; Except for the Guido method, all rest presented design methods underestimated the resistance from the compressible subsoil. So, further study and a better understanding of soil arching should be developed.