• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.89-98
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• 2010

A method to design a critical height of embankments is presented so as to mobilize fully soil arching in pile-supported embankments. The behavior of the load transfer of embankment weights on pile cap beams was investigated by a series of model tests performed on pile-supported embankments with relatively wide space between cap beams. The model tests explained that the behavior of the load transfer depended very much on the height of embankments, because soil arching could be mobilized in pile-supported embankments only under enough high embankments. The measured vertical loads on cap beams coincided with the predicted ones estimated by the theoretical equations, which have been presented in the previous studies on the basis of load transfer mechanisms according to either the punching shear failure mode during low filling stage or the soil arching failure mode during high filling stage. The mechanism of the load transfer was shifted beyond a critical height of embankment from the punching shear mechanism to the soil arching mechanism. Therefore, in order to mobilize soil arching in pile-supported embankments, the embankments should be designed at least higher than the critical height. A theoretical equation to estimate the critical height could be derived by equalizing the vertical loads estimated by the load transfer mechanisms on the basis of both the punching shear and the soil arching. The derived theoretical equation could predict very well the experimental critical height of embankment.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2C
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• pp.133-141
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• 2008

Theoretical analysis are developed to estimate the load transfer by soil arching in geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported(GRPS) embankment systems. According to the results of analyses, the efficiency of embankment pile systems increases when the geosynthetics are installed with piles. Especially the increment of efficiency is more remarkable in the low embankment height, where soil arching can not be fully developed. The factors affecting the load transfer in GRPS embankment systems are the pile spacing, the height and properties of embankments, and the strength of geosynthetics. The efficiency decreases with increasing the pile spacing, while it increases with the height and internal friction angle of embankment fills, and the strength of geosynthetics. These results of analyses show the proposed analysis method is resonable to estimate the soil arching in GRPS embankment systems.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.67-74
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• 2012

The arching effect of the active earth pressure acting on an excavation wall subjected to close excavation reduces lateral earth pressure acting on excavation wall. In this paper, the arching effect was estimated for varying width to excavation depth ratio and wall friction angle by analytical and numerical methods verified with centrifuge test results. The arching effect is significant when the width to excavation depth ratio and wall friction angle is decreased and increased, respectively. The analytical solution derived from the classical arching theory suggested by Handy(1985) shows good agreement with the numerical solution than the other solutions.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.53-66
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• 2007

A series of model tests were performed to investigate the soil arching effect in embankments supported by piles with geosynthetics. In the model tests, model piles with isolated cap were inserted through the holes in a steel plate, which could be operated up and down. Then geosynthetics was laid on the pile caps below sand fills. The settlement of soft ground was simulated by lowering the plate. As the plate was lowered, the soil arching was mobilized in the embankments. The deformation of both the sand fills and geosynthetics were captured by camera. Also the loads acting on pile cap and the tensile strain of geosynthetics were monitored by data logging system. Model tests showed that the embankment loads transferred on pile cap by soil arching Increased rapidly with settlement of the soft ground. In case of the absence of geosynthetics, the loads acting on pile caps dropped to residual value after peak value, whereas loads on pile caps gradually increased until constant value in case of geosynthetic-reinforced. This illustrated that reinforcing with the geosynthetics has a good effect to restrain the settlement of embankments. Also, the deformation shape of geosynthetics between pile caps was circular. The embankment loads transferred on pile caps can be estimated by considering both soil arching and tensile strain of geosynthetics in embankments supported by piles with geosynthetics.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.19-27
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• 2018

Terzaghi proposed a 2D formula for arching based on the assumption of a vertical sliding surface induced in the upper part due to the downward movement of a trapdoor. The formula was later expanded to consider 3D tunnel excavation conditions under inclined sliding surfaces. This study further extends the expanded formula to consider the effects of different ground properties and inclined sliding conditions in the transverse and longitudinal directions considering anisotropic ground conditions, as well as 3D tunnel excavation conditions. The 3D formula proposed in this study was examined of the induced vertical stress under various conditions (ground property, inclined sliding surface, excavation condition, surcharge pressure, earth pressure coefficient) and compared with the 2D Terzaghi formula. The examination indicated that the induced vertical stress increased as the excavation width and length increased, the inclination angle increased, the cohesion and friction angle decreased, the earth pressure coefficient decreased, and the surcharge pressure increased. Under the conditions examined, the stress was more affected at low excavation lengths and by the ground properties in the transverse direction. In addition, The comparison with the 2D Terzaghi formula showed that the induced vertical stress was lower and the difference was highly affected by the ground properties, inclined sliding conditions, and 3D tunnel excavation conditions. The proposed 3D arching formula could help to provide better understanding of complex arching phenomena in tunnel construction.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2009

Several researches have been done to estimate the earth pressure on a vertical circular shaft considering three dimensional arching effect and verified them by conducting model tests. However, any equation suggested so far is not applicable in case of multi-layered soils and/or C-${\phi}$ soils. In this study, new equation for estimating the earth pressure acting on the vertical shaft in c-${\phi}$ soils is proposed. A parametric study is performed to investigate the significance of the cohesion when estimating the coefficient of earth pressure in C-${\phi}$ soils and estimating earth pressures in vertical shafts. A method which can estimate the earth pressure on vertical shafts in layered soils is also proposed by assuming a failure surface in layered soils and using the modified equation. This paper is Part I of companion papers focusing on the theoretical aspect of model developments; the experimental verification will be made in Part II.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.207-220
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• 1999

Model tests were performed to investigate the failure modes in embankments on soft ground supported by piles with cap beams. In the model tests, Jumunjin standard sand was placed on simulated cap beams and soft ground. The cap beams are placed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the embankment. The colored sand and the Jmniin standard sand were placed one after the other above cap beams and soft ground to make lateral stripes with 3mm thickness in the embarkment. The colored sand was prepared by coating the Jumunjin sand with black lead powder. The photographs illustrate the two characteristic modes of failure in embarkments. One is the soil arching failure and the other is the punching shear failure. The failure mode depends on the height of embankment and the space between cap beams. That is, if the embankment is high enough compared with the space between cap beams, it will fail in arching failure. On the other hand if the embarkment is relatively low or the space between piles is too wide, it will fail in punching shear failure. The soil arching develops in embarkment as a semicylindrical arch with a thickness equal to the width of the cap beam. And the soil wedge developed above the cap beams remains intact during both arching and punching failures. The boundary of punching shear failure of the displaced soil mass can be defined on the basis of observation of the photographs.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.129-144
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• 2010

The earth pressure acting on the vertical shaft is less than that acting on the retaining wall due to three dimensional arching effect. Thus, it might be essential to estimate the earth pressure actually acting on the shaft when designing the vertical shaft. In this paper, large-sized model tests were conducted as Part II of companion papers to verify the newly suggested earth pressure equation proposed by Kim et al. (2009: Part I of companion papers) that can be used when designing the vertical shaft in cohesionless soils as well as in c-$\phi$ soils and multi-layered soils. The newly developed model test apparatus was designed to be able to simulate staged shaft excavation. Model tests were performed by varying the radius of vertical shaft in dry soil. Moreover, tests on c-$\phi$ soils and on multi-layered soils were also performed; in order to induce apparent cohesion to the cohesionless soil, we add some water to the dry soil to make the soil partially-saturated before depositing by raining method. Experimental results showed a load transfer from excavated ground to non-excavated zone below dredging level due to arching effect when simulating staged excavation. It was also found that measured earth pressure was far smaller than estimated if excavation is done at once; the final earth pressure measured after performing staged excavation was larger and matched with that estimated from the newly proposed equation. Measured results in c-$\phi$ soils and in multi-layered soils showed reduction in earth pressures due to apparent cohesion effect and showed good matches with analytical results.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.127-136
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• 2004

The soil arching in the backfill, which affects the magnitude and distribution of active earth pressure on a retaining wall, has also an effect on the stability and cross-sectional area of the retaining wall. In this study, results obtained from Paik's equation that includes arching effect on active earth pressure are compared with those from Coulomb theory to investigate the influence of the soil arching on active earth pressure, overturning moment, stability and cross-sectional area of translating rigid retaining walls. The comparisons show that the active forces including arching effects are always higher than those from Coulomb theory, irrespective of $\phi$ and $\delta$ values. The overturning moments, shear force and moment on the rigid wall are also higher when considering arching effects than when not considering arching effects. The deviation of shear forces and moments by including and excluding arching effects becomes maximum at the height of 0.02-0.08 times wall height from the base of the wall. Therefore, if a translating rigid retaining walls is designed based on Coulomb theory, the wall may reach sliding and overturning failures due to arching effect in the backfill and the cross-sectional area of the wall, especially at lower part of the wall, may not be sufficient to resist to shear force and moment.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2003

This study is focused on the finding out load transfer mechanism in the ground near the tunnel during tunnel excavation in the jointed sandy ground. Laboratory model tests were performed on various cases of the overburden heights above tunnel crown, location, and degree of discontinuity planes. For model tests, a movable plate was installed in the midst of the bottom of sandy ground. This plate, moving downwards, was intended to model the stress relaxation during tunnel excavation. The load transfer was measured at the fixed separated bottom plates adjacent to the movable plate. As the result, the loosening zone and the load-transfer form around the tunnelling site were affected by the overburden height and the characteristics of discontinuous planes. And large loosening zone was developed along the discontinuous planes which were close to the tunnel.