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Roads, Bridges and Embankments

GeoStudio provides comprehensive tools for analyzing roads, bridges and embankments.

The analytical challenge



There are a wide range of geotechnical engineering problems that fall under the broader category of civil engineering works. These can often involve the construction of roadways, rail beds, bridge abutments, and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls. The challenges associated with designing these structures are varied. Construction sequences in the field often depend on transient changes in pore-water pressures due to consolidation. Embankment construction often requires the interaction of typical soil materials as well as concrete and structural steel or geofabrics. Timing of the placement of these components is often critical to construction and post-construction stability.

The GeoStudio solution



GeoStudio is capable of analyzing many different construction projects. Staged construction can be modeled in the same sequence as actual field construction and if the process is time dependent, actual time durations may be assigned to each modeled stage so that the results can be graphed over time. Data from one construction stage is carried forward to the next, and it is possible to branch the analysis to consider different scenarios. In addition, GeoStudio allows for a wide range of supporting analyses in the project file, such as slope stability, climate interaction, or earthquake stability analyses.

Solution Examples

Explore documented examples of how GeoStudio can effectively  analyze roads, bridges and embankments.

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Stress and Deformation

SIGMA/W can be used to analyze the full construction sequence of an earth structure, including the development and dissipation of excess pore-water pressures during construction. Integrate SIGMA/W and SLOPE/W to analyze the deformation and stability of the structure through time. Use SIGMA/W or SEEP/W to design pore-water pressure control measures.


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Limit State Design

SLOPE/W can be used to complete a stability analysis with the objective being to check an ultimate limit state in accordance with various limit state design approaches such as Eurocode 7, Norwegian Standard NS 3480, and British Standard 8006. The partial factors may be applied to characteristic loads, soil strength and material parameters, and reinforcement properties.


Download the GeoStudio data files(1) (2) (3)

Read the analysis details

Reinforcement Design

GeoStudio offers that ability to incorporate reinforcement in stability analyses, including anchors, soil nails, geosynthetics, and piles. SLOPE/W allows for the distribution of pullout forces across many slices and includes a factor of safety dependency option for geosynthetic reinforcement.

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Coupled Consolidation Analysis

GeoStudio may be used to determine the time required between construction sequences to allow for excess pore water pressure dissipation before placement of subsequent lifts. Soft soils can be simulated using the non-linear Modified Cam-Clay (MCC) constitutive relationship.

Download the GeoStudio data files
Read the analysis details

Related products

GeoStudio's integrated products work in combination to provide effective analysis of roads, bridges and embankments.

 

SLOPE/W

Stability analysis of soil and rock slopes.

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SEEP/W + SEEP3D

Finite element analysis of groundwater flow in saturated / unsaturated porous media.

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SIGMA/W

Finite element stress and deformation analysis of earth and structural materials.

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QUAKE/W

Finite element analysis of earthquake liquefaction and dynamic loading.

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TEMP/W + TEMP3D

Finite element analysis of heat transfer and phase change in porous media.

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AIR/W

Finite element analysis of air transfer in mine waste and other porous media.

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Explore all solutions

GeoStudio's integrated products enable you to work across a broad range of engineering use cases.