To　more　accurately　analyze　the　settlement　of　geosynthetic-reinforced　embankments　on　soft　soil　foundation,　we　simplified　the　ground　surface　structures　as　an　Euler-Bernoulli　beam,　and　the　geosynthetic-reinforced　layer　as　a　Timoshenko　beam.　The　granular　fill　and　the　soft　soil　foundation　were　both　modelled　using　two-parameter　Pasternak　foundation　models.　We　used　energy　method　to　establish　energy　balance　equations　for　the　system,　and　then　we　used　the　principle　of　resident　potential　energy　to　derive　the　governing　differential　equations　of　the　settlement　of　the　ground　surface　structures　and　the　geosynthetic-reinforced　layer.　The　MATLAB　solver　bvp4c　was　used　to　obtain　numerical　solutions　for　the　settlement　of　the　ground　surface　structures　and　the　geosynthetic-reinforced　layer　on　Pasternak　foundations.　By　comparing　to　test　results　and　existing　models,　the　validity　of　the　proposed　solution　is　verified.　This　study　analyzed　the　effects　of　parameters,　such　as　flexural　rigidity　of　the　geosynthetic-reinforced　layer,　shear　modulus　of　the　granular　fill,　thickness　of　the　soft　soil　foundation,　and　horizontal　shear　modulus　of　the　Timoshenko　beam,　on　the　settlement　of　the　ground　surface　structures　and　the　geosynthetic-reinforced　layer.　The　results　showed　that　the　model　using　a　Pasternak　foundation　and　a　Timoshenko　beam　is　more　accurate　at　predicting　settlement　than　that　using　a　Winkler　foundation　and　an　Euler-Bernoulli　beam.　(C)　2018　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.