Finite-element analysis of a piled embankment with reinforcement compared with BS 8006 predictions

Abstract

<jats:p> The British ‘Code of practice for strengthened/reinforced soils and other fills' (BS 8006) was substantially revised in 2010, with a further ‘Corrigendum' in 2012. Historically, BS 8006 considered arching in a piled embankment, based on an interpretation of the ‘Marston' equation. The 2010 revision included an alternative method related to the analysis of arching in a piled embankment, which was proposed by Hewlett and Randolph in 1988, and later itself amended in the 2012 Corrigendum. This contribution considers BS 8006 predictions of reinforcement tension using these methods as a basis for embankment load on the reinforcement, for a wide range of piled embankment geometries. The predictions are compared with results from three-dimensional finite-element analysis, demonstrating encouraging correspondence with the Hewlett and Randolph approach (but noting that the 2010 revision overpredicts the data whereas the 2012 revision underpredicts it). Good predictions of maximum reinforcement sag are also achieved by slight modification of the BS 8006 method. </jats:p>