This thirty-seventh manual in the GEO5 engineering series provides a comprehensive guide to analyzing the time evolution of settlement in an embankment using the Finite Element Method (FEM) with GEO5’s Consolidation module. The manual focuses on understanding how settlement and pore pressure evolve over time due to gradual pore pressure redistribution in the subsoil. Available for download, this manual is essential for geotechnical engineers involved in the design and analysis of embankment projects where consolidation is a critical factor.

Learning Objective:

The goal of this manual is to teach users how to perform a consolidation analysis using the GEO5 FEM module. Users will learn how to model the geometry and material properties of an embankment, apply boundary conditions, and analyze the time-dependent behavior of settlement and pore pressure. The manual also covers interpreting the displacement field and pore pressure field at various time intervals following the construction of the embankment.

Assignment Description:

In this assignment, users are tasked with analyzing the time evolution of settlement in an embankment constructed on a layered subsoil. The subsoil consists of sandy and clayey soils, and the analysis includes modeling the embankment’s geometry, applying material parameters, and running simulations to track settlement and pore pressure over 7 days, 30 days, 1 year, and 10 years. The manual provides step-by-step instructions for setting up the project, generating the finite element mesh, and interpreting the results for displacement and pore pressure fields.

Outcome:

Upon completing this assignment, users will be able to accurately model and analyze the time-dependent settlement of an embankment using GEO5 FEM software. They will gain practical experience in conducting consolidation analyses, interpreting results at different stages of the consolidation process, and ensuring that the design accounts for long-term settlement behavior.

Conclusions:

The manual concludes that the majority of pore pressure dissipation occurs within the first week after the embankment’s construction, with the final settlement largely achieved within one year. The results demonstrate that careful analysis of pore pressure and settlement over time is crucial for understanding the long-term performance of embankment structures. The manual highlights the importance of considering the entire consolidation process to ensure accurate and reliable predictions of settlement.

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