ABSTRACT
A hybrid type reinforcement technique is proposed for application to both existing and new highway embankments for mitigating earthquake induced damages. In the proposed technique, inclined piles are installed at the top of vertical piles, and they are fixed to each other. The inclined piles are assumed to provide an additional restraining force to the vertical piles against lateral loading as well as reduce ground deformation and settlement during earthquake loading. In this study, a series of simulations were performed to determine the optimum inclination angle to achieve the best performance using the proposed technique. The numerical results suggest that a suitable angle (55–60°) between the vertical and inclined pile could effectively reduce deformation of the highway embankment during seismic loading.
