Geosynthetic-Reinforced Pile-Supported Embankments (GRPSE) are effective composite structures to support highway infrastructures on weak soils. Numerous design methods have been developed in practice to facilitate the use of this technology. However, it is well known that as the design methods adopt different theoretical assumptions, the performance indexes given by the design methods vary significantly. Furthermore, the effect of soil variability on the design outcomes given by the design methods is unknown. These uncertainties present great challenges to design engineers to select the proper design method and consider soil variability. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted comprehensive probabilistic analyses using typical design methods (BS8006 and CUR226) and 3D finite element models (unit-cell and full-scale) considering soil variability. A well-established case study in the literature was used as a benchmark. Algorithms for the design methods and the 3D finite element models were developed, calibrated and tested in both deterministic and probabilistic scenarios. A detailed probabilistic comparison between the design methods and the 3D finite element models was also carried out. Results show that 1) soil variability affects the performance indexes of GRPSE, including stress reduction ratio, stress concentration ratio, differential settlement, and tensile force of geosynthetics; 2) model uncertainties of design methods can be as high as 46%, due to the assumptions and simplifications made to formulate the solutions; 3) the probabilistic 3D full-scale finite element method is the most robust approach to consider soil variability.

中文翻译：

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使用考虑土壤变化的设计方法和三维有限元模型对土工合成材料加固桩支撑路堤进行概率分析


土工合成材料加固桩支护路堤 （GRPSE） 是支撑软弱土壤上的公路基础设施的有效复合结构。在实践中已经开发了许多设计方法来促进该技术的使用。然而，众所周知，由于设计方法采用的理论假设不同，设计方法给出的性能指标差异很大。此外，土壤变化对设计方法给出的设计结果的影响尚不清楚。这些不确定性给设计工程师选择合适的设计方法和考虑土壤变化带来了巨大挑战。为了填补这一知识空白，我们使用典型的设计方法（BS8006 和 CUR226）和考虑土壤变化的 3D 有限元模型（晶胞和全尺寸）进行了全面的概率分析。文献中一个成熟的案例研究被用作基准。设计方法和 3D 有限元模型的算法在确定性和概率场景中进行开发、校准和测试。还对设计方法和 3D 有限元模型进行了详细的概率比较。结果表明：1）土体变异性影响GRPSE的性能指标，包括土工合成材料应力降低比、应力集中比、差异沉降和拉力;2） 由于为制定解决方案所做的假设和简化，设计方法的模型不确定性可能高达 46%;3） 概率 3D 全尺寸有限元法是考虑土壤变异性的最稳健方法。