Prediction of embankment performance using numerical analyses – Practitioner’s approach

A 3 m high embankment with prefabricated vertical drains was constructed over Ballina clay. It has been thoroughly instrumented for monitoring over three years after construction. Based on the data available at the site, the authors undertook Class A predictions of embankment performance using two approaches: a simple 1D consolidation analysis and a sophisticated large strain finite element analysis (FEA) using Soft Soil Creep (SSC) model. Class C predictions were then conducted using the SSC model in FEA, with and without large strain. It is demonstrated that the SSC model can give satisfactory results when large strain FEA was used.