Excavations Stabilized Using Rock Revetments

The concept of utilizing preplaced “quarry run rock” (unprocessec rock blasted at a quarry) as a retaining wall for large excavations in soft soils is described. Various configurations of rock placement are presented and con sidered to show that a shallow slope failure can be prevented by placing suf ficient rock at the toe and a deep base failure can be prevented by either con structing a keyway or by placing rock at the toe of the slope. The rock revetment must be constructed prior to the excavation in a trench that is sta bilized by flooding with water. Where there is sufficient area available, the rod revetment appears to be a fully effective solution and much more economica than other types of retaining structures.