Assessment of Creep Vulnerability in Domestic Embankment Materials Considering Fine Content Conditions

Seung-Jun Lee; Teawan Bang; Wanjei Cho

doi:10.7843/kgs.2026.42.2.53

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2026 Vol.42, Issue 2 Preview Page Next Page

Assessment of Creep Vulnerability in Domestic Embankment Materials Considering Fine Content Conditions 세립분 함량에 따른 국내 성토재료의 Creep 취약성 평가

30 April 2026. pp. 53-67

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Abstract

Conventional sandy-soil-based embankment materials are typically regarded as having limited time-dependent deformation (creep), with current standards capping fines content at 25% or less. However, cases of long-term and differential settlement continue to be reported in high-embankment sections, even when materials meet these standards. To assess the limitations of current guidelines, this study experimentally investigated the effects of fines content on the creep behavior of embankment materials collected from actual highway construction sites. Large-scale one-dimensional compression tests were performed to analyze time-dependent deformation characteristics, internal structural transitions, and to determine the transitional fines content (TFC). The experimental results revealed that creep strain increased nonlinearly when fines content exceeded approximately 15%. In addition, under the 25% fines condition, creep deformation constituted over 43% of the total deformation. The TFC was found to be in the range of approximately 21–25%, aligning with the upper limit of current standards. By contrast, the optimal range of fines content for engineering stability was determined to be approximately 10–20%. These findings suggest that the current standard represents a critical threshold for behavioral transition. Consequently, the current fines content limit necessitates further evaluation to ensure the long-term stability of high-embankment structures. In particular, a performance-based fines content range of 15–20% merits additional discussion and validation.

Keywords

Creep settlement

Embankment materials

Fine contents

Large-scale compression test

Underground structure

기존 사질토 기반의 성토재료는 시간 의존적 변형(Creep)이 제한적일 것으로 인식되어 현행 기준에서는 세립분 함량을 25% 이하로 관리하고 있으나, 실제 고성토 구간에서는 기준을 만족하는 재료에서도 장기 침하 및 부등침하 사례가 지속적으로 보고되고 있다. 이에 본 연구는 현행 기준의 한계를 검증하기 위해, 국내 고속도로 현장에서 채취한 성토재를 대상으로 세립분 함량이 Creep 거동에 미치는 영향을 실험적으로 평가하였다. 이를 위해 대형 압축 실험과 1차원 압축 실험을 수행하여 시간 의존적 변형 특성과 내부 구조 전이를 분석하고, 전환 세립분 함량(Transitional Fines Content, TFC)을 도출하였다. 실험 결과, 세립분 함량이 약 15%를 초과하는 구간에서 Creep 변형률이 비선형적으로 증가하였다. 또한, 고세립분(25%) 조건에서는 전체 변형 중 Creep에 의한 변형이 약 43% 이상으로 나타났으며, TFC는 약 21~25% 범위로 평가되어 현행 기준 상한치와 중첩됨을 확인하였다. 반면, 공학적으로 안정한 최적 세립분 함량 범위는 약 10~20%로 도출되었다. 이는 현행 기준이 지반 거동 특성이 변화하여 거동 전이가 발생하는 물리적 경계 영역에 해당할 가능성을 시사한다. 따라서 고성토 구조물의 장기 안정성 확보를 위해 세립분 함량 관리 기준의 적용성 및 적정 수준에 대한 재검토가 필요하며, 특히 15~20% 범위와 관련된 성능 기반 관리 기준에 대해서는 추가적인 검증을 바탕으로 한 논의가 요구된다.

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
Volume : 42
No :2
Pages :53-67
Received Date : 2026-02-03
Revised Date : 2026-04-20
Accepted Date : 2026-04-20
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2026.42.2.53

Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society ISSN:1229-2427(Print) 2288-646X(Online) 한국지반공학회 논문집

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