Field practice and ground settlement behaviors of a land creation case in loess area of China

High filling to create land requires the practical design of ground treatment and accurate settlement estimation. However, the two issues are still largely dependent on empirical methods, which indicate the significant value of field results of related engineering practice. This study analyzes the main geotechnical problems faced in the land formation of the collapsible loess area in Yan’an, Shaanxi Province, China, by using a high-filling foundation. In addition, the design of the original foundation treatment, groundwater treatment, and high-filling procedures are given in detail. The deformation process and characteristics of the loess high-filling foundation are investigated based on the monitoring results of the ground settlement. The applicability and accuracy of different prediction models for settlement during construction and post-construction stages are also discussed. The findings show that the settlement of the high filling foundation is directly related to the nature of the original soil foundation, the thickness of the compressed layer, and the height and compactness of the filling material. The larger the filling thickness, the larger the settlement occurs. Indeed, the post-construction settlement of the high-filling foundation stabilizes in about 3 years. The variations of post-construction settlement with time can be described using the three-point, hyperbola, or Richards methods, although the fitting parameters vary with various filling thicknesses. The successful construction of this case could provide a reference for building similar terrain and landforms.