The stability of single-stage constructed reinforced embankments on soft clay

Embankments constructed over soft ground often require the use of reinforcement to produce an economic design whilst ensuring stability during construction. The amount of reinforcement is dependent on the geometry of the embankment and the strength characteristics of both the embankment and the subsoil. Limit equilibrium methods can be used to assess stability, providing a valid failure mechanism is postulated, and, for idealized subsoil strength profiles, plasticity solutions are also available. This paper documents numerical analyses which support the use of the plasticity solutions and provide the basis of a new design method. The application of both limit equilibrium and plasticity methods to embankments constructed in a single stage is discussed.