ANALYTICAL STUDY ON PERMORMANCE OF BASAL REINFORCED PILED EMBANKMENT

Abstract

Due to severe settlement, low capacity for bearing, and stability over time problems, soft subsoils make embankment construction difficult. Basal Reinforced Piled Embankments (BRPEs) are a reliable ground enhancement method for these difficulties. This approach uses vertical piles and geosynthetic support at the embankment's base to transfer loads and reduce settling. This study employs PLAXIS 2D, a geotechnical engineering finite element software, to evaluate BRPE systems on soft subsoils. The project involves modelling a basal-reinforced piled embankment over soft clay in 2D. The analysis examines how pile spacing, reinforcing rigidity, embankment height, and the pile cap size affect load transfer, settling behaviour, and arching mechanisms. The Weak Soil Creep model captures main and secondary consolidating effects in soft subsoil, while geogrid elements represent reinforcement. Results show basal reinforcement considerably improves embankment performance. It improves pile load distribution and decreases overall and differential settlements. Geosynthetic membranes, especially at shorter pile spacings and greater stiffness, improve soil arching while decreasing soft ground stress. System reliability and efficiency depend on embankment elevation and the pile cap size. This study emphasises the need of optimising BRPE system design factors and offers soft soil experts’ practical advice. The findings suggest PLAXIS 2D can reliably model complicated ground-structure interactions and drive future engineering and field validation.