Design and Performance Evaluation of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Load Transfer Platforms in Pile-Supported Embankments

This study focuses on the design and performance evaluation of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Load Transfer Platforms in Pile-Supported Embankments (GLTP-PSE), with emphasis on performance indicators such as arching height, maximum strain, differential settlement, tensile forces in geosynthetics, and soil arching mechanisms. The main objective of the current study is to evaluate the design methodologies of GLTP-PSE through comprehensive 3D Finite Element (FE) analyses. Results from the 3D FE analyses were compared with measurements from a case study and six established GLTP-PSE design methodologies. Key findings include the identification of a progressive concentrated ellipsoid as the soil arching formation, with arching height influenced by embankment equivalent height (accounting for embankment and traffic loads), pile spacing, maximum strain along the geosynthetics, and the number of geosynthetic layers. The load distribution on geosynthetic reinforcement was found to align more closely with a non-linear inverse triangular pattern.