The effect of structure is important for the deformation and strength of marine soft clays. The replacing depth is also related to the structure of soft clays during the dealing progress of soft foundation
in which the blasting-based squeezing and replacing method is used. The structure may be an uncertain factor to evaluate the settlement and the stability of the embankment. In order to explore the effect of structure on the settlement of the foundation
a compression model of structural soils is established for analyzing the compression characteristics of marine soft clays quantitatively. The calibration method of model parameters is also given. The compression model is verified by the experimental data from literatures. The results show that the model is not only effective for predicting well the deformation at the 1D stress state but can be used to describe the compression characteristics at triaxial stress state. Then the model is adopted to analyze the compression characteristics of marine soft clays in Xuanmen area
Zhejiang province. The effect of structure on the compression deformation of soft clays in the area is simulated well by the new model. The model offers a quantificational method to predict the settlement of the embankment in the area. Furthermore
the model will be helpful for reinforcing the theoretical basis for design and construction of the embankment in the structural clay area.