Slope Stabilization Using Recycled Plastic Pins
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 30, Issue 3
Abstract
Shallow slope failures are common in highway embankments in the north Texas region and pose significant maintenance problems for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). As a cost-effective alternative, recycled plastic pins (RPPs) can be utilized to stabilize slopes and prevent shallow slope failures. RPPs are fabricated from recycled plastic and waste materials (i.e., polymers, sawdust, and fly ash). It is a lightweight material and less susceptible to chemical and biological degradation than alternative reinforcing elements. RPPs are driven into the slope face, which provides additional resistance along the slip surface, increasing the factor of safety against shallow slope failure. The current study presents a field demonstration project of a highway slope reinforced with RPPs. The slope was located on the southbound side of U.S. Highway 287, near the St. Paul overpass in Midlothian, Texas. Surficial movement had taken place in the slope, resulting in cracks along the shoulder near the bridge abutment. Three 15.25-m (50-ft) sections over the cracked portion were reinforced using RPPs. In addition, two 15.25-m (50-ft) unreinforced control sections were provided between the reinforced sections to compare the performance. The northbound side of the slope was not reinforced and was also considered the control slope. After installation of the RPPs, the performance of the slope was monitored by using instrumented RPPs, inclinometers and a topographic survey. The performance monitoring results indicated that all of the reinforced sections were performing better than the control sections on the southbound slope. Two locations on the northbound control slope failed during the monitoring period. RPPs provided support and resisted failure of the southbound slope. Moreover, the RPP spacing at the crest played an important role in resisting the displacement.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
ASTM. (2010a). “Standard test methods for flexural properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics and electrical insulating materials.” D6109, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2010b). “Standard test methods for flexural properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics and electrical insulating materials.” D790, West Conshohocken, PA.
Bowders, J. J., Loehr, J. E., Salim, H., and Chen, C. W. (2003). “Engineering properties of recycled plastic pins for slope stabilization.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 1–8.
Breslin, V. T., Senturk, U., and Berndt, C. C. (1998). “Long-term engineering properties of recycled plastic lumber in pier construction.” Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 23(4), 243–258.
Chen, C. W., Salim, H., Bowders, J., Loehr, E., and Owen, J. (2007). “Creep behavior of recycled plastic lumber in slope stabilization applications.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 130–138.
Khan, M. S., Hossain, M. S., Hossain, J., and Kibria, G. (2013). “Performance evaluation of a slope reinforced with recycled plastic pin.” Geo-Congress 2013, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1733–1742.
Kibria, G., and Hossain, M. S. (2012). “Investigation of geotechnical parameters affecting electrical resistivity of compacted clays.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1520–1529.
Loehr, J. E., and Bowders, J. J. (2007). “Slope stabilization using recycled plastic pins—Phase III.”, Missouri Dept. of Transportation, Jefferson City, MO.
Loehr, J. E., Bowders, J. J., Owen, J. W., Sommers, L., and Liew, W. (2000). “Stabilization of slopes using recycled plastic pins.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 1–8.
Loehr, J. E., Fennessey, T. W., and Bowders, J. J. (2007). “Stabilization of surficial slides using recycled plastic reinforcement.”, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 79–87.
McCormick, W., and Short, R. (2006). “Cost effective stabilization of clay slopes and failures using plate piles.” Proc., IAEG2006, Geological Society of London, London, 1–7.
McLaren, M. G. (1995). “Recycled plastic lumber and shapes design and specification.” Proc., 13th Structures Congress, Vol. 1, ASCE, Reston, VA, 819–833.
Sommers, L., Loehr, J. E., and Bowders, J. J. (2000). “Construction methods for slope stabilization with recycled plastic pins.” Proc., Mid-Continent Transportation Symp., Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA.
Thompson, M. J., and White, D. J. (2006). “Design of reinforcement with small-diameter piles.” Proc., Advances in Earth Structures: Research to Practice, GSP No. 151, ASCE, Reston, VA, 1–12.
Wright, S. G. (2005). “Evaluation of soil shear strengths for slope and retaining wall stability analyses with emphasis on high plasticity clays.”, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC.
Zornberg, J. G., Kuhn, J., and Wright, S. (2007). “Determination of field suction values, hydraulic properties and shear strength in high PI clays.”, Center for Transportation Research, Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 30 • Issue 3 • June 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 2, 2014
Accepted: May 15, 2015
Published online: Jul 6, 2015
Discussion open until: Dec 6, 2015
Published in print: Jun 1, 2016
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.