THE INVESTIGATION AND DESIGN OF CUTTINGS IN STIFF PLIOCENE CLAYS OF LATTAKIA, SYRIA

Part of the proposed route for a new highway between Lattakia and Aleppo in northern Syria crosses a sequence of stiff Pliocene clays. Unusually, for stiff clays, the natural water content is considerably above the plastic limit and it is suggested that this is due to the high proportion of smectite (montmorillonite) being strongly cemented by calcium carbonate. Railway cuttings formed at slopes of 1 on 1.5 have suffered a number of failures within 5 years of completion. Cuttings formed at 1 on 2.5 are presently stable, but, being ungrassed, have suffered severe erosion due to high rainfall intensity and lack of maintenance to drainage works. The long term stable natural slope angle varies between 6 degrees and 10 degrees. The basis for the choice of the design cutting slope of 1 on 3 and associated erosion protection and drainage provisions are outlined. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/04812085
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented at the Annual Regional meeting of the Engineering Group of the Geological Society held at Birmingham University on 13th-17th September 1982.
• Corporate Authors:

  GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

  BURLINGTON HOUSE, PICCADILLY
  LONDON,   United Kingdom  W1V 0JU
• Authors:
  • Williams, R E
  • MURE, R A
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 267-279
• Serial:
  • QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
  • ISSN: 0481-2085

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calcium carbonate; Chemical analysis; Clay; Conferences; Design; Drainage; Earthwork cutting; Erosion; Excavations; Geology; Geomorphology; Highways; Maps; Moisture content; Montmorillonite; Plastic limit; Prevention; Shear strength; Slope stability; Slopes; Strength of materials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Site investigation
• Geographic Terms: Syria
• ITRD Terms: 7163: Chemical analysis; 4177: Clay; 8525: Conference; 2812: Cutting (earthworks); 9011: Design (overall design); 5275: Erosion; 4053: Geology; 4055: Geomorphology; 2755: Highway; 4074: Map; 9149: Prevention; 5531: Shear; 5722: Site investigation; 2831: Slope (terrain); 5783: Slope stability; 5544: Strength (mater); 8111: Syria
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Security and Emergencies; I41: General Soil Surveys; I51: Earthworks and Soil Drainage;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00382480
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 1984 12:00AM