Influence of degradation of structure on the behaviour of a full-scale embankment

The advanced constitutive model KHSM for structured clays, which incorporates the effects of loss of structure within an elastoplastic framework, has been implemented in a finite element procedure and used to investigate the failure height and pore-water pressures of embankment A constructed at Saint Alban, Quebec. For the purpose of model comparison, simulations were also performed using the standard bubble model (KHM) without destructuration. The numerical predictions of pore-water pressures and settlements are also compared with field measurements. The results clearly demonstrate the importance of including the effects of loss of structure in the analysis.