Roadbed Design on Soft Ground: Settlement and Stability Analysis of Cuihua Road, Xi’an

Abstract

This research aims to give a general view of a thorough analysis of the while building road embankments on soft ground and suggests a course for future development Roadbed construction is an important part of the road project, and the quality of the subgrade is directly related to the quality of the entire road project. The subgrade works include the subgrade itself, related earth (stone), small bridges and culverts along the line, retaining walls, shoulders, slopes, drainage pipes, and other projects. Depending on whether the roadbed is located in a cut or in an embankment, it has its own specific aspects and a different structure. There is a discussion of frequently employed soft-ground improvement methods. In many parts of the world, particularly along deltas and coastal regions, there exist thick deposits of soft ground, such as soft marine and estuary clay.  These soils have bad geotechnical characteristics, such as a high natural moisture content that is almost liquid, a high compressibility, and low shear strength.  Embankments on such soft terrain, which are frequently used for highway building, are frequently impacted by edge stability and long-term settlement. The approaches, findings, and historical cases that contribute to the stability of the road embankment are examined. The research demonstrates that the construction of the road embankment is complicated by settlement, slope stability, and soil-bearing capacity. Geometric data is also discovered to be a crucial element in embankment design. This study's findings can be utilized to create design guidance systems, numerical modeling, and to provide an overview and background knowledge to other researchers who are conducting or plan to conduct research in this area. Understanding the behavior of these components is essential for producing a successful embankment. Finally, research directions for the future are related to artificial intelligence-based predictions of the elements that influence the stability of road embankments.