• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.879-896
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• 2016

A new earth pressure equation considering the arching effect in $c-{\phi}$ soils was proposed for the accurate calculation of earth pressure on circular vertical shafts. The arching effect and the subsequent load recovery phenomenon occurring due to multi-step excavation were quantitatively investigated through laboratory tests. The new earth pressure equation was verified by comparing the test results with the earth pressures predicted by new equation in various soil conditions. Resulting from testing by using multi-step excavation, the arching effect and load recovery were clearly observed. The test results in $c-{\phi}$ soil showed that even a small amount of cohesion can cause the earth pressure to decrease significantly. Therefore, predicting earth pressure without considering such cohesion can lead to overestimation of earth pressure. The test results in various ground conditions demonstrated that the newly proposed equation, which enables consideration of cohesion as appropriate, is the most reliable equation for predicting earth pressure in both ${\phi}$ soil and $c-{\phi}$ soil. The comparison of the theoretical equations with the field data measured on a real construction site also highlighted the best-fitness of the theoretical equation in predicting earth pressure.

• 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.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.829-844
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• 2015

In the current paper the results of a numerical simulation that were verified by a well instrumented experimental procedure for studying the arching effect over a trapdoor in sand is presented. To simulate this phenomenon with continuum mechanics, the experimental procedure is modeled in ABAQUS code using stress dependent hardening in elastic state and plastic strain dependent frictional hardening-softening with Mohr Coulomb failure criterion applying user sub-routine. The apparatus comprises rectangular trapdoors with different width that can yield downward while stresses and deformations are recorded simultaneously. As the trapdoor starts to yield, the whole soil mass deforms elastically. However, after an immediate specified displacement, depending on the width of the trapdoor, the soil mass behaves plastically. This behavior of sand occurs due to the flow phenomenon and continues until the stress on trapdoor is minimized. Then the failure process develops in sand and the measured stress on the trapdoor shows an ascending trend. This indicates gradual separation of the yielding mass from the whole soil body. Finally, the flow process leads to establish a stable vault of sand called arching mechanism or progressive collapse of the soil body.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.413-420
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• 2019

The changes in earth pressure and ground settlement due to underground excavation near an existing retaining wall were studied experimentally according to the separation distance between the underground excavation and the retaining wall. In addition, this study attempted to experimentally prove that the arching phenomenon occurred during the construction of the underground space. A model tank having 120 cm in length, 160 cm in height, and 40 cm in width was manufactured to simulate underground excavation through the use of five separated base wall bodies. The variation of earth pressure on the retaining wall was measured according to the underground excavation phase through the use of 10 separated right wall bodies. The results showed that the earth pressure on the retaining wall was changed by the lowering of the first base bottom wall; however, the earth pressure was not changed significantly by the lowering of the third base bottom wall, since the third base wall had sufficient separation distance from the retaining wall. Lowering of the first base wall induced a decrease in the earth pressure in the lower part of the retaining wall; in contrast, lowering of the first base wall induced an increase in the earth pressure in the middle part of the retaining wall, proving the arching effect experimentally. It is necessary to consider the changes in earth pressure on the retaining wall in designing earth retaining structures for sections where the arching effect occurs.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.599-610
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• 2021

Conduits are commonly installed below the ground for utility conveyance around the world. Vertical load on a buried conduit is an important parameter that needs to be known to ensure its safe design and installation. Consideration of soil arching in load calculations helps achieve a more realistic and efficient design. In the past, considering the arching effect, the design charts have been presented for use by practicing engineers to calculate the vertical load on the conduit buried below the level ground. There are currently no design charts for calculating the vertical load on the conduit buried under a sloping ground. In this paper, an attempt has been made to present the derivation of a generalized analytical expression considering that the soil mass overlying the conduit has a sloping face and the arching phenomenon takes place. The developed generalized expression has been used to present some design charts considering specific values of slope geometry, soil properties and burial depths. Furthermore, analytical results for specific soil parameters have been compared with the results extracted from a commercial software PLAXIS 2D, for a developed numerical model and an independent study.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.193-203
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• 2004

Arching effects in backfill materials generate a nonlinear active earth pressure distribution on a rigid retaining wall with rough face, and arching effects on the shape of the nonlinear earth pressure distribution depends on the mode of wall movement. Therefore, the practical shape of failure surface and arching effect in the backfill changed with the mode of wall movement must be considered to calculate accurate magnitude and distribution of active earth pressure on the rigid wall. In this study, a new formulation for calculating the active earth pressure on a rough rigid retaining wall rotating about the base is proposed by considering the shape of nonlinear failure surface and arching effects in the backfill. In order to avoid mathematical complexities in the calculation of active earth pressure, the imaginary failure surface composed of four linear surfaces is used instead of the nonlinear failure surface as failure surface of backfills. The comparisons between predictions from the proposed equations and existing model test results show that the proposed equations produce satisfactory predictions.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.443-450
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• 2002

It is known that the distribution of the active earth pressure against a translating rigid wall is not triangular, but nonlinear, due to arching effects in the backfill. In the present paper, a new formulation for calculating the active earth pressure on a rigid retaining wall undergoing horizontal translation is proposed. It takes into account the arching effects that occur in the backfill. In order to check the accuracy of the proposed formulation, the predictions from the equation are compared with both existing full-scale test results and values from existing equations. The comparisons between calculated and measured values show that the proposed equations satisfactorily predict both the earth pressure distribution and the total active earth force on the translating wall.

• 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 Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.417-427
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• 2010

In the ease that a new cross tunnel is constructed under the existing tunnel, development of a longitudinal arching would be influenced by the existing tunnel. But it is not enough to investigate. Especially, the influence of the structure loads on the ground surface on the new tunnel, which the under-passes existing tunnel has been rarely studied. This study, therefore, aimed to clarify the effect of the existing tunnel and the structure on the ground surface on the development of a longitudinal ground arching during the excavation of a cross tunnel under the existing tunnel. Two-dimensional model tests were carried out in the test box, whose dimension was 30 cm (wide) ${\times}$ 113 cm (deep) ${\times}$ 87 cm (high). The existing tunnel was made of S21 steel tube in 16 cm diameter and 1 mm thickness. The ground surface load was 4.9 kPa and was loaded on the model structure in the size with 30 cm width ${\times}$ 16 cm height. New tunnel was excavated in 250 mm height by a bench cut method. As results, the longitudinal arching would be developed but it was severely influenced by not only the existing upper tunnel but also the ground surface load. The influence of the ground surface load on the development of longitudinal ground arching around a new tunnel showed the highest value when the tunnel face located direct under the surface load.