Final - Mechanism of Lattice Frame Reinforcement (LFR) System Used To Delay Settlement of Coastal Rock Embankments 1
Final - Mechanism of Lattice Frame Reinforcement (LFR) System Used To Delay Settlement of Coastal Rock Embankments 1
Abstract— This paper presents a study of the mechanism of the Due to large self-weight of the rock embankment, soil
Lattice Frame Reinforcement (LFR) system to reduce the rate of settlement is rather significant. Large self-weight cannot be
embankment settlement. The proposed LFR system consists of two avoided since the height of the rock embankment is crucial to
main components, polyester sheet (LFR sheet) and lattice framed keep its active status and to protect shores from sea waves. In
injected mortar polyester tube (LFR mortar tube). LFR system
can be applied under embankments. Both components are knitted
addition, width of the rock embankments is required to be
together before the mortar is injected into the tube. Firstly, sheet sufficient to maintain its stability during its lifetime. The
and the empty LFR tubes are placed to cover the area to be proposed LFR system is applied under the rock embankment to
improved. Secondly, mortar is injected into the tubes and all the delay and decrease settlement with time which is beneficial for
tube ends are sealed. After the injected mortar is properly cured, shoreline protection by expanding its active lifetime.
the embankment can be constructed on top of the LFR system. The
system distributes concentrated load from the embankment to Soil settlement is one of the main problems for coastal
much larger area under the LFR system, which reduces vertical embankment. The sinking of embankment due to soil
soil pressure under the embankment. Providing less pressure to settlement may cause the embankment not to function
the underneath soil, it results in lower soil settlement. Two
experimental embankments with LFR system were constructed in
efficiently. There are two types of soil settlement: immediate
Samut Sakhon province in Thailand. The actual soil settlements of and long-term settlements. Immediate settlement usually last
these embankments have been monitored for the future study. for the first few days and long-term settlement could last for
Tensile and bending tests were conducted to understand the years.[1]
behavior of the LFR material. This study aims to understand the
mechanism of the LFR system under rock embankment. LFR In most recent studies, a system referred as Lattice-
mortar tubes in the system behave more likely as a tensile member. Frame Reinforcement (LFR) system which is mainly applied to
The function of injected mortar is only to keep the LFR tubes in reduce soil settlement has grasped attention from construction
shape and to provide better constructability. industry [2].
Keywords— Lattice Frame Reinforcement (LFR), Soil
Settlement, Field measurement, Rock Embankment, Finite Element
Modeling.
I. INTRODUCTION
II. METHODOLOGY
In order to understand the mechanism of the LFR This study aims to understand the mechanism of LFR
system, a preliminary FE analysis was performed. The material system under rock embankments. The evaluation of the FEM
properties of LFR sheet and LFR mortar tube are from the test will be carried out in term of total long-term settlement of the
results presented in the previous section. soil underneath LFR system. LFR mortar tubes in the system
behave more likely as a tensile member. The function of
The analysis results indicated that the embankment injected mortar is only to keep the LFR tubes in shape and to
settles down with almost the same settlement over its large area. provide better constructability. The sheet and tube resists
This behavior results in small curvature in the LFR tubes as tension when the material is in stretch condition where this
shown in Fig 16. condition can be maintained via interlockings between rock-
rock and rock-tube and sheet. Future study will be carried out
to confirm in this regard considering different parameters such
as, diameters of mortar tube, grades of mortar, arrangements of
LFR tube and sizes of embankment.
AKNOWLEDGMENTS
Small curvature of
the LFR tubes The first author would like to express his appreciation
Fig. 16. Deformed shaped of the LFR system under the embankment (5x and gratitude to the Excellent Foreign Student (EFS)
magnification) after 900 days of construction Scholarship and the TU Scholarship for Foreign Students for the
opportunity to pursue his Master degree at Sirindhorn
This implies that the LFR tube behave more as a International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat
tensile member instead of bending member. Based on the University, Thailand. Special gratitude goes to Teijin Limited to
results of this preliminary FE analysis, the mechanism of LFR provide funding for this research project and Ashimori Industry
system can be explained as follows. Co., Ltd. to facilitate necessary testing materials, photos, and
access to the experimental site. This study is also supported by
the Center of Excellence in Material Science, Construction and
1. Each LFR tube behaves like a tensile member rather than a
Maintenance Technology Project, Thammasat University and
bending member. This is due to a small curvature of the tube
when it is loaded from the self-weight of rock embankment.
National Science and Technology Development Agency conference on soil mechinice and geotechnical engineering M.Hamza et
(NSTDA) Chair Professor Grant. al. (Eds.) IOS Press, 2009, doi:10.3233/978-1-60750-031-5-2378
[5] Yoshida, T., kitamoto, Y., Shimada, Y. et al., Effects of surface soil
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