Mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) abutments to a new overbridge in Buckingham, UK for the HS2 project needed a check on overall stability and settlement to support Tensar's design of internal stability. The geometry was complicated by the abutment piles passing straight through the geogrid layers.

A 3D FEA model of the MSE wall, approach embankment, piled foundations, bridge loading and supporting ground showed that shallow ground improvement measures were necessary to satisfy the differential settlement limits and achieve sufficient foundation stability.

Highlights

• 3D FEA model of MSE wall bridge abutment, approach embankment, bridge loading, foundation piles and supporting ground.

• Full simulation of layered construction to obtain more accurate predictions.

• Simulation of shallow ground improvement of foundation soils to obtain satisfactory settlement and stability.

• Achievement of target differential settlement between bridge abutment and approach embankment.

Want to learn more about using FEA to predict differential settlement in infrastructure assets? This story is for you!