In order to improve the understanding of soil arching effect in the piled embankment

a series of three-dimensional model tests were carried out. The stress reduction ratio and the vertical stress distribution in the embankment fill were studied in detail. Based on the measured and the computed results

the applicability of Terzaghi method and Hewlett & Randolph method were verified. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was also performed in this research; the computed orientation of maximum principal stresses

the stress level and the settlement pattern were analyzed in detail. Based on the test and numerical results

it is found that the value of stress reduction ratio computed by Terzaghi method is closed to that of Hewlett & Randolph method; but the vertical stress distributions of the two methods are different considerably. If the failure surface observed from the numerical result is used

the prediction of vertical stresses using Terzaghi’s method is found to be coincident with the measured value