Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Reinforcing Geogrids Applied in High Embankment of Highway and Excess Preload

The geogrid is a general material of reinforced embankment,it is very effective to reducing horizontal and vertical displacements of the embankment. The excess preload is general foundation treatment method.The author carried out analysis of horizontal and vertical displacements of reinforced embankment and non-reinforced embankment with 2-D finite element.DP model is chosen to consider the nonlinearity of soil,the changing-status nonlinearity is considered by surface-to-surface contact element and the geogrid is modeled by the truss element which is jointed at the contact point with soil.The analysis examines that vertical and horizontal displacements of 10-15 m reinforced embankment can be reduced by 20% and 50%,and that the improvement of geogrid is more effective to reducing horizontal and vertical displacements of the embankment than 5 m reinforced embankment.The results of analysis are in good agreement with the data of actual measurement.