Study on a method for predicting deformation of surrounding ground suitable for embankment on peaty ground

Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region, PWRI, Sapporo, Japan

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

When strip loads such as road embankments act on peat ground, settlement directly below the embankment and uplift of the surrounding ground due to expansion and lateral displacement occur concurrently, affecting surrounding structures. Deformation of the surrounding ground caused by the embankment is estimated using a simplified method based on measured data. However, many uncertainties remain regarding the applicability of this simplified method to highly compressible peat ground. To evaluate the applicability of simplified methods to peat ground, we compared the influence zones estimated by simplified methods with measured values for embankments constructed on peaty ground. The results showed that when constructing low-load embankments on peaty ground, the influence zone affecting the surrounding ground was smaller than the estimated value from the simplified method, regardless of the peat's natural water content. Therefore, based on the measured results, a parametric study was conducted using the physical properties of peat and clay as parameters. This study proposes a prediction method for the appropriate influence zone and displacement amount on the surrounding ground when constructing embankments on peaty ground.