High-fill embankment settlement estimation based on the theory of unsaturated soils

This paper gives us a settlement calculation model under the conditions of no lateral deformation and lateral deformation based on the one-dimensional constitutive relations of unsaturated soils, according to the force characteristics of embankment and with consideration of the impact of water environment. In the paper, combined with the three-phase composition relations, we show the estimation methods of embankment settlement or deformation in a variety of conditions (such as external load, gravity effect, groundwater level rise or rainfall infiltration, as well as the combined effects of all the conditions). The method is feasible to be used to estimate embankment settlement, the calculation process of which can reflect the embankment deformation mechanism with clear concept. It can be used not only for settlement and deformation calculation under the effect of load, but also for embankment deformation calculation caused by the change of water content. This method needs to be further examined by practical construction.