Numerical simulation of centrifugal model test on reinforced embankment with lime-stabilized soil as backfill on soft clay foundation

A finite element numerical model is established based on the dimensions of a centrifugal test model to simulate the changes of displacements, earth pressures, pore water pressures and tensile forces of reinforcements with time in the soft clay foundation on the reinforced embankment with lime-stabilized soil as backfill under the variable acceleration loadings. The computed results then are compared with those obtained from the centrifugal test. Three cases of unreinforced, one-layer reinforced and two-layer reinforced embankments are also simulated based on the calibrated numerical model. The results show that the computed displacements, earth pressures, pore water pressures and tensile forces of the reinforcements are in good agreement with the measured ones, indicating the appropriate numerical model. The vertical and lateral displacements, respectively at the center and the slope toe of the unreinforced embankment, are greater than those of one-layer reinforced embankment. The difference of the ground surface horizontal displacements at the slope toe between unreinforced and one-layer reinforced embankments reaches nearly 2 mm when the acceleration is 100.0 g; however, the displacements of the two-layer reinforced embankment are very close to those of one-layer reinforced embankment.