Modelagem física e numérica de aterros estruturados compactados

Abstract

The construction of embankments on soft soil foundations using piles and reinforcements is an efficient and economical technical solution. A geosynthetic, reinforced, pile-supported (GRPS) embankment system may be an interesting solution to comply with the strict requirements regarding settlement and stability for roadways and railway embankments. This thesis experimentally and numerically investigates the behavior of a geosynthetic-reinforced-pile-supported (GRPS) embankment under plane strain conditions. Eight large-scale physical model tests were performed the geotechnical laboratory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ). The tests were well-instrumented in order to monitor the embankment settlement, reinforcement strain and deflection, and total stress on the caps and platform. Finite element analyzes were also carried out in order to assess the effect of backfill dilatancy, embankment height and reinforcement stiffness on the behavior of GRPS structures. The results show that the differential settlement at the top of the embankment and the reinforcement deflection reduce with an increase of dilatancy angle. The maximum reinforcement strain occurs in the central region between the caps. The measured and numerically calculated values of the maximum reinforcement strain and deflection are compared with those predicted using the current design methods; some limitations of each method are presented and discussed