Centrifugal modeling and numerical analysis of the improvement of soft clay under embankment

Centrifugal model tests were conducted to investigate the performance of a soft clay under an embankment. This paper introduces two series of tests. The first series of tests dealt with an untreated clay foundation and the second series of tests were performed with the clay foundation improved by preloading with plastic sheet drains. The program CRISP was employed to evaluate the deformations of the soft clay. The results from the experiments and the calculations were reasonably consistent. It was found that the untreated clay should not be chosen as the embankment foundation due to its excessive settlements during the stage of operation if the preloading lasted only for 6 months. For the treated clay with wick drains of 1.5 m spacing, the settlements in the large part of the foundation could be controlled below 30 cm except those near the crest of the embankment