Analytical Study for Geosynthetic Reinforced Embankment on Elastic Foundation

The geosynthetic reinforced embankment is composed of pavement, embankment fills, geosynthetic layer and foundation soil. Due to the non-uniform displacement of embankment fill under loading and existence of supporting structures such as piles, shear stress will occur in the foundation soil. In this paper, an analytical model is proposed for geosynthetic reinforced embankment. Embankment fill is modeled as a Timoshenko beam imbedded with a geosynthetic layer, and the pavement is simulated by an Euler-Bernoulli beam. Two types of beam models are employed so that both bending moment and shear stress in the embankment are taken into consideration. Based on the theories of the Euler-Bernoulli beam and the Timoshenko beam, governing equations are proposed for geosynthetic reinforced embankment on an elastic foundation. The analytical solution has been derived using appropriate continuity and boundary conditions under strip loading. It can be observed that the length of the pavement structure and foundation soil stiffness have much influence on the displacement and bending moment distributions of the embankment system.