Analysis of calculation methods for weak foundations of road embankments

Introduction . The article presents information on accidents that occurred on the roads of the Russian Federation, the USA, China, Cyprus, and India due to insufficient shear resistance of weak soils at the base of the embankment. Therefore, the analysis of methods for calculating the stability of weak foundations of road embankments becomes relevant. Materials and methods . The famous methods for determining ultimate loads are divided into calculations: by the first critical load, analytical and numerical solutions of the theory of limit equilibrium of soil, and calculations performed by the finite element method. Each method has been analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the solution of Evgenyev - Kazarnovskiy. This solution is considered to be a generally accepted method for calculating the weak foundation of highway embankments. The authors have demonstrated the derivation of formulas for calculating the stability coefficient of the weak foundation and safe pressure. The advantages and disadvantages of this method have been noted. The specific features of the finite element method applied to calculate soil foundations have been considered. The disadvantages of the PLAXIS and MIDAS software packages, found by the specialists of the Siberian State Transport University (Novosibirsk), have been presented. Results . The calculation of the embankment base stability by shear stress, which is the equivalent to the stress of the Mohr-Coulomb criterion, has been presented. The proposed calculation is the analogue of the calculation by the first critical load. Conclusion . The obtained results allow us to make weak embankment bases calculations. The goals for the authors’ future research have been set.