Piled embankment foundations

Abstract

ln a recent paper (Hewlett, 1988) a method is presented aimed to compute the ejficiency of piled foundations in the case of embankments resting on soft soils, efficiency conditioned, as it is evident, by "arch effects" developed inside the embankment. ln the present paper some critical comments are presented concerning the physical basis of the proped method. Also preocedures are proposed to deal with the important problem of punching.