An Investigation of the Impact of Geogrid on the Stability of an Embankment by using PLAXIS 2D.

Abstract

Geosynthetic material use has increased dramatically in recent years in civil engineering applications such as reinforced earth barriers, slope stability, transportation, reinforced embankments, etc. The purpose of embankments is to raise the surface height over that of the surrounding land. Many infrastructure projects are being constructed on embankments, and infrastructures that are resting on embankments may collapse as a result of embankment failure. This could cause fatalities, financial losses, and interruptions to any services that the projects provide; the loss of these things could take years to be made up for. The performance of the embankment with and without the usage of geogrid was evaluated using the Analytical Method and the Finite Element Method (FEM). This work uses numerical simulations in PLAXIS 2D to examine the effect of geogrid reinforcement on embankment stability. The analysis compares embankments with and without geogrid reinforcement, focusing on important factors such as the factor of safety (FOS), displacement (both horizontal and vertical), and stress distribution. With a discernible rise in FOS and decreases in both vertical settlement and horizontal displacement, the results show a considerable improvement in stability for reinforced embankments. Stress concentrations and failure risk were decreased in geogrid-reinforced embankments due to their more uniform stress distribution. Geogrid reinforcement has been shown to be very successful in difficult situations, such as unstable soils and steep inclines. For this reason, it is a crucial instrument in contemporary geotechnical engineering for augmenting the resilience and security of embankments. This study highlights the advantages of geogrid as an affordable way to reduce the risks of deformation and collapse, providing important insights for the design of safer and more durable embankment constructions.