Evaluation of Vertical Superimposed Stress in Subsoil Induced by Embankment Loads

Abstract

This paper proposes a practical method of determining embankment loads-induced vertical superimposed stress in subsoil by incorporating the effects of contact stress and soil elastoplastic behavior. The particulate–probabilistic theory is introduced to establish a new way of determining contact stress for overcoming the assumptions in the traditional trapezoidal stress distribution approach with instantaneous loading and perfectly flexible loaded area along the base. Then, the Flamant solution is introduced to propose a practical method of determining the vertical superimposed stress in subsoil. A reduction coefficient of 0.85 is suggested for considering the effect of elastoplastic of subsoil. The measured values of contact stress and field settlements are compiled from literature available to validate the proposed equations. It is found that the suggested methods in this study can improve significantly the degree of accuracy of the Osterberg method (Osterberg 1957) in calculating embankment loads induced settlement.