Experimental Study of Various Techniques to Protect Ice-Rich Cut Slopes

Cut slopes are usually required to achieve roadway design grades in the ice-rich permafrost areas in Alaska. However, excavation and exposure of a cut slope destroy the existing thermal balance and result in degradation of ice-rich permafrost. Environmentally acceptable, legal, and economically viable solutions for ice-rich slope protection are still rare. Three potential thermal-erosion mitigation techniques were investigated. Four test sections (Section A: 1 ft wood chips, Section B: coconut blanket, Section C: coconut blanket + Tecco-mesh, and Section D: 1 ft crushed rock as a control section) were constructed at the Dalton Highway 9 Mile Hill during the period of April 17 through April 27, 2013. Temperature and moisture sensors were installed to monitor four test sections and evaluate the effectiveness of the different mitigation techniques. Also, a weather station was built to record climatic information at the test site by April 30, 2013. The filed monitoring period ended on November 11, 2014. No obvious erosion was observed in Sections A and B due to less ice content when compared with Sections C and D which failed one and a half months after construction. The performance of four techniques was discussed in detail.

• Record URL:
  https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/bitstream/handle/11122/7533/X.Zhang-et-al_Techniques-to-Protect-Ice-Rich-Cut-Slopes_Construction-Report_Final-13.07.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/60022
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska University Transportation Center

  University of Alaska, Fairbanks
  P.O. Box 755900
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99775-5900

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  Research & Technology Transfer
  2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99709-5399

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Li, Lin
  • McHattie, Robert
  • Zhang, Xiong
  • Zhang, Mingchu
• Publication Date: 2014-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 132p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Embankments; Erosion control; Freeze thaw durability; Ice; Permafrost; Photogrammetry; Slope failure
• Geographic Terms: Alaska
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw; I42: Soil Mechanics; I62: Winter Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01576129
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 4000(113)B, INE/AUTC 15.08
• Contract Numbers: Alaska DOT&PF: 4000(133)B; AUTC: 510010
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 25 2015 4:17PM