Centrifuge Model Test on the Performance of Geogrid-Reinforced and Pile-Supported Embankment Over Soft Soil

We conducted a centrifugal model test to investigate the deformation and failure mode of a geogrid-reinforced and pile-supported (GRPS) embankment. The embankment filling was simulated using the incremental acceleration method, and the surcharge was subsequently applied using an inflatable airbag on the embankment. By installing different types of instruments, the displacement of the soil, the axial force and bending moment of the piles, and the earth pressure and pore water pressure of the foundation were monitored. The test results revealed that the embankment tended to slide in a circular-arc manner from shallow to deep, and the stress distribution of the piles varied with the locations. The stress concentration ratio of the embankment was higher, which indicates a more efficient load transmission. Additionally, the excess pore water pressure in the GRPS embankment was lower compared with that in conventional piled embankments.