PREDICTION OF LONG-TERM DEFORMATION OF ROAD EMBANKMENT ON SOFT GROUND BY FEM AND ITS APPLICATION TO PERFORMANCE DESIGN

Abstract

The design of the road embankment on the soft ground is based on the specifications and regulations so far. But it is scheduled to change to the performance design in the near future. In this paper, soil/water coupled FEM analysis is done to predict the long-term deformation of road embankment on the soft ground, and compared with measured ones, and comparatively good agreement is obtained. Some case studies of performance design by FEM are carried out. The countermeasures to the soft ground are studied and the optimum method from the viewpoint of minimum life cycle cost is found.