What is a piled embankment?

A piled embankment consists of a field on piles, with on top of that an embankment. The bottom section of the embankment is composed of a granular material and reinforced with one or more geosynthetic layers. The embankment can be raised with sand or granular material. The piled embankment is finished with a road or a railroad construction.
 

Within the granular layer, a kind of arche occurs.. The load is transferred through these arches. This phenomenon is called arching.

Why are piled embankments applied?

Construction of roads or railroads with a piled embankment is far faster than many other techniques. A piled embankment is also a good solution:

• when only limited, or even zero settlements are allowed;
• when sensitive constructions lie nearby, such as pipes, tubes or an existing road;
• when constructing or broadening a (rail)road on weak soil. Especially if the life cycle costs (thus also the costs of the maintenance of the road) are considered during the decision process.
   

Example projects

Please find a list of Dutch piled embankment projects here.

The Dutch version of Piled Embankment: Paalmatrassystemen.