Deformation analysis of geocell-reinforced body under embankment load considering soil arch effect

Firstly, it is assumed that the soil pressure coefficient and degree of friction resistance at the interface of the inner and outer soil pillars are related to the relative displacement of the interface. Then, based on the traditional soil column model, an analysis model for soil arch effect is established, and the functional relationship between the pile-soil stress ratio and differential settlement at the bottom of the embankment is further obtained through a series of mathematical transformations like independent variable conversion. The geocell-reinforced body is simplified as a small deflection elastic sheet, and the deformation of piles and soil and the effect of interface friction are considered. By introducing the proposed soil arch effect model, nonlinear algebraic equations and an interaction model for "embankment-geocell-reinforced body-pile-soil reinforcement area" is established. To calculate this model, the iterative method is adopted. Finally, a new method for calculating the pile-soil stress ratio, the settlement of embankment and the differential settlement of piles and soil is obtained. Besides, the results are compared with those of the previous methods through example verification, which has proved the rationality of the proposed method. Finally, the effects of pile-soil stiffness ratio, compression modulus and internal friction angle of embankment fill on pile-soil stress ratio and deformation of geocell-reinforced body are studied through parameter analysis. © 2020, Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. All right reserved.