Impact of Biopolymers on Slope Stability of an Embankment in Steady and Transient States
Publication: IFCEE 2024
ABSTRACT
The earthen embankment is extensively employed in transportation networks and flood defenses. The collapse of embankments might cause social and economic disruptions. Expansive soils are a prevalent problem that affects many locations in the United States’ southern, western, southwestern, and north-central states. Sulfate-rich expansive soils form ettringite by the reaction of soluble sulfate and free alumina with calcium-based stabilizers. Expansive clayey soil frequently exhibits shrinkage-swelling behavior as a result of variations in moisture regimes with wetting-drying cycles. The structural integrity of slopes is seriously threatened by desiccation cracking in expanding clays during seasonal fluctuations. In the past, soil treatment with a biopolymer additive has been effective in lowering soil cracking brought on by desiccation. This study presents a probabilistic framework to assess the stability of expansive soil slopes considering the impact of flood levels and drought conditions on the earthen embankments. The procedure for the development of the fragility curve is discussed in the study. The impact of biopolymer treatment on slope stability is investigated with a combined framework of slope stability analysis using a coupled finite element (FE) and limit equilibrium (LE) based software and risk-based analysis using fragility function.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
IFCEE 2024
Pages: 61 - 70
History
Published online: May 3, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Expansive soils
- Fine-grained soils
- Finite element method
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Materials engineering
- Methodology (by type)
- Numerical methods
- Polymer
- Slope stability
- Slopes
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soil water
- Soils (by type)
- Synthetic materials
Authors
Metrics & Citations
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