Numerical simulation analysis of the application of cement-mixed pile curtain in an expressway extension project

Subgrade subsidence and pavement cracking are becoming a serious problem during the service periods of expressways. A cement-mixed pile curtain (CMPC) was installed at the boundary of an old and extended pavement for an extension project of a soft soil subgrade section of expressway. The settlement of the soft soil foundation and the construction process were simulated using elastic-plastic finite element analysis software. The numerical simulation results are in line with the experimental results, which show that the numerical model accurately describes the deformation of the cement mixing pile and the soft soil foundation. The CMPC can effectively reduce the settlement and deformation of the subgrade of expressway pavement. Also, the elastic modulus, depth and installed position of the CMPC were analysed as the parameters of deformation for the subgrade of the expressway pavement. The numerical results show that the CMPC can effectively prevent deterioration of the reconstruction expressway, which means that this method has good prospects for engineering applications.