Ground improvement for embankments on soft ground

Constructing embankments on soft ground to adhere to the requirements of modern codes of practice is challenging without ground improvement. An overview is presented on the types of columnar inclusions and embankment base reinforcement in terms of load–settlement behaviour, together with calculation procedures using partial safety factors. These are based on the Swiss Code 267, Switzerland's national annex to Eurocode 7; they are relevant in the project phase and in understanding the general behaviour of the whole system. Three-dimensional inclusions have been incorporated in a two-dimensional slip circle analysis. Simple assumptions are validated against a physical model for the serviceability limit state, with good agreement. First design approximations may therefore be calculated in this way.