Stability of Low Embankments on Soft Clay. Part 3. Centrifuge Tests and Numerical Analysis.
Abstract
Centrifuge tests have been conducted to study the behaviour of embankments on soft clay and to provide quantitative data against which to test the predictive power of the Cambridge CRISP program. Soft clay foundations were prepared with an overconsolidated crust over normally consolidated kaolin clay. Methods of conducting site investigation tests on this clay have been described in Parts 1 and 2. Tests were performed both with embankments constructed during flight in stages and in a single lift to failure, with measures of pore pressures at selected locations, and displacements using a marker grid. Some tests were performed with the clay foundation strengthened using granular columns. An embankment built in a single life, on unstrengthened clay failed at a height of 11.6m before inducing failure. Heights of 13m were achieved with stage constructed embankments on strengthened foundations, but without any failure occurring. Unexpected large lateral displacements were measured in unstrengthened clay during consolidation periods. Large displacement increases are a good indicator of factor of safety below about 1.3. At corresponding loading the use of strengthened foundations decreased lateral and vertical movements by about 50.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA148743
Entities
People
- M. S. S. Almeida
- R. H. G. Parry
Organizations
- University of Cambridge