Basal-reinforced pile-supported embankments, dealing with risks and safety during design and construction
Basal-reinforced pile-supported embankments, dealing with risks and safety during design and construction
For the safe and cost-effective design and construction of geosynthetic-reinforced pile-supported (GRPS) embankments, four components are essential: (1) A well-validated design model that closely aligns with measurements, (2) A model factor that transforms the results of this design model into ‘characteristic’ values, ensuring that the results of the model are on the safe side in over 99.7% of the cases, (3) A set of partial factors, calibrated in such a way that the required safety level is achieved and (4) Experience and lessons learned. This paper guides the reader along these four components. The paper shows that the Concentric Arches model offers the closest match to measurements and explains the determination of the model factor and the set of partial factors, as conducted for the design guideline for GRPS embankments CUR226. The paper concludes with some examples of lessons learned from cases involving failures or near-failures.