An analytical model of the additional confining stress in a prestress-reinforced embankment

Using a device composed of two lateral pressure plates (LPPs) and a steel reinforcement bar to apply horizontal pressure on slope surfaces, a newly developed prestress-reinforced embankment (PRE) is proposed, to which can be adopted in strengthening railway subgrades. In this study, an analytical model, which is available of calculating additional confining stress (<i>&#963;</i>_H) at any point in a PRE, was established based on the theory of elasticity. In addition, to verify the proposed analytical model, three dimensional (3D) finite element analyses were conducted and the feasibility in application was also identified and discussed. In order to study the performance of the PRE, the propagation of <i>&#963;</i>_H in a PRE was analyzed and discussed based on the analytical model. For the aim of convenience in application, calculation charts were developed in terms of three dimensionless parameters, and they can be used to accurately and efficiently predict the <i>&#963;</i>_H in a PRE regardless of the embankment slope ratio and LPP side length ratio. Finally, the potential applications of the proposed analytical model were discussed.