Cohesive Slope Surface Failure and Evaluation
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 7
Abstract
This paper highlights the mechanism of slope surface failure that occurs on highway embankments with cohesive soils. Based on systematic instrumentation in the field, the major reason for such surface failures is ascribed to the reduction of soil strength due to the seasonal variation of moisture content in embankment soils. Shrinkage cracks develop in an embankment during dry seasons. A great amount of rainfall then infiltrates into embankment soils through these cracks in subsequent wet seasons. As such, the shear strength of embankment soils progressively decreases as soils swell until a surface failure occurs. This surface failure mechanism was indirectly studied through a series of shrinkage and unconfined compressive tests on cohesive soil similar to that at the highway embankment. A limit equilibrium analysis method was also suggested accordingly for the back calculation of slope stability. Finally, a rehabilitation technique using nonwoven geotextile was recommended for highway maintenance engineers to repair such slope surface failures.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writers acknowledge the efforts of Ken Johnston, Paige Tarver, and Aaron Austin in collecting field data and conducting intensive laboratory work. The writers also acknowledge other colleagues in the geotechnical group of Louisiana Transportation Research Center for their assistance and help.
References
ASTM D653. (2001). “Standard terminology relating to soil, rock, and contained fluids.” Annual book of ASTM standards, Vol. 04.08, 43–77.
ASTM D698. (2001). “Standard test methods for laboratory compaction characteristics of soils using standard effort [ ].” Annual book of ASTM standards, Vol. 04. 08, 78—88.
ASTM D1633. (2001). “Standard test methods for compressive strength of molded soil-cement cylinder.” Annual book of ASTM standards, Vol. 04. 08, 160–163.
ASTM D4943. (2001). “Standard test method for shrinkage factors of soils by the wax method.” Annual book of ASTM standards, Vol. 04.08, 939–943.
ASTM Designation D2487. (2001). “Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purpose (Unified Soil Classification System).” Annual book of ASTM standards, Vol. 04. 08, 246–257.
Chen, F. (1975). Foundations on expansive soils, Elsevier, New York.
Das, B. M. (1983). Advanced soil mechanics, 1st Ed., Hemisphere, New York.
Farrag, K. (1995). “Effect of moisture content on the interaction properties of geosynthetics.” Proc., Geosynthetics 1995 Conf., International Geosynthetics Society, Nashville, Tenn.
Gregory, G. H. (1998). “Mechanism of shallow slope failures in clay.” ASCE Texas Section Fall Meeting, Geotechnical section, Texas Section-ASCE, Dallas.
Gregory, G. H., and Chill, D. S. (1998). “Stabilization of earth slopes with fiber reinforcement.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Geosynthetics, International Geosynthetics Society, Atlanta.
Marr, A., and Werden, S. (1997). Reinforced slope stability: A microcomputer program, User’s manual, Geocomp, Concord, Mass.
Yong, R. N., and Warkentin, B. P. (1966). Introduction to soil behavior, Macmillan, New York.
Zhang, Z., Farrag, K., and Morvant, M. (2003). “Evaluation of the effect of synthetic fibers and nonwoven geotextile reinforcement on the stability of heavy clay embankments.” Rep. No. FHWA/LA.03/373, Louisiana Transportation Research Center, La.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 9, 2003
Accepted: Oct 20, 2004
Published online: Jul 1, 2005
Published in print: Jul 2005
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.