Excessive Settlement Back-Analysis of Railway Embankment on Soft Soils during Service

This paper presents case history of railway embankment excess settlement on soft clay during service in southern region of Korea. A lot of field observations show that the measured settlements are a lot larger than settlements actually calculated in this area. Back analysis is carried out to verify the soil parameters which are intended to investigate in the subsurface exploration phase and later in a laboratory test program. Recommendations and causes for the engineering practice are suggested to review the determination of excess settlements and, consequently, to improve the settlement prediction. This enormous discrepancy is due to the passing over secondary consolidation, and the design filling did not meet to real construction filling. Immediate settlement could be subsidiary factor of excess settlement.