INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE OF A HYDRAULICALLY PLACED EMBANKMENT

A study was performed to determine the causes of differential subsidence of a hydraulically constructed sand embankment in a fresh water swamp. Among other test methods, an electric cone penetration test (ECPT) was used to determine the cause(s) for embankment, and thus pavement, distress. Because very little historical design and construction information was available to the authors for analysis, the approach used was of a forensic nature rather than that of a well-defined research study. The electronic cone penetrometer, in combination with other tests, proved to be an invaluable tool in determining the condition of the sand embankment. Consolidation test results and embankment and subgrade profiles obtained by ECPT and borings eliminated the possibility of continuing settlement of subgrade soils. The problem is within the hydraulically placed sand fill. It was determined that the sand embankment when hydraulically placed was not sufficiently densified and that in later years the top 6 ft of the embankment, which is above the water table, experienced various degrees of densification under traffic loadings. Remedial options were studied and recommendations were made for field evaluations of these methods.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1988/1192/1192-007.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=INVESTIGATION+OF+THE+FAILURE+OF+A+HYDRAULICALLY+PLACED+EMBANKMENT&author=A.+Arman&author=P.+Griffin&publication_year=1988
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1192, Soil Engineering. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Arman, Ara
  • Griffin, Paul M
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 60-69
• Monograph Title: Soil engineering
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1192
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cone penetrometers; Distress; Failure analysis; Sand; Soil densification; Subsidence (Geology); Swamps; Test procedures
• Uncontrolled Terms: Causes
• Old TRIS Terms: Hydraulic embankments
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00489537
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309047706
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 30 1989 12:00AM