Performance prediction of road embankment on soft soil stabilized with prefabricated vertical drains using numerical method

Abstract

The case history of a road embankment constructed over soft soil stabilized with prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) is presented. Modelling very complicated subsoil and structural elements could be assisted by numerical methods. Finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted in this study to verify the effectiveness of PVD modelling in the subsoil utilizing Plaxis 2D. The field settlement data were collected and compared to FEM predicted with different smear effect permeability ratio. Thereafter, predicted settlement data relatively accurate was used in the back-calculated to determine the ultimate settlement with the Asaoka and hyperbolic methods. The ultimate settlement predicted with the smear effects permeability ratio is 6 similar to measured. Asaoka method was found to be reliable in estimating settlement of ground foundation.