A Lead for Water Resources Preservation in Earthworks Projects

Water consumption in earthworks can be an important economical and environmental issue for projects occurring in some specific geological and climatic regions. In particular, the question in assessing the risk of using dry or arid soils is uncertain. Recent site observations and research results are leading to distinguish two problems -- the difficult compaction of dry soils and their long-term behavior due to wetting. The answers that are brought in this paper indicate that, even if it needs intense energy, compaction of dry soils can lead to a sufficiently high compaction rate to avoid wetting-induced settlements for low to moderate plasticity soils. This gives arguments for a design of road and railways embankments built with dry and arid soils, but also points out the high necessity of intense compaction control.

• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • Manier, E
  • Ferber, V
• Conference:
  • Choice for Sustainable Development. Pre-Proceedings of the 23rd PIARRC World Road Congress
  • Location: Paris , France
  • Date: 2007-9-17 to 2007-9-21
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 11p
• Monograph Title: The Choice for Sustainable Development. Pre-Proceedings of the 23rd PIARC World Road Congress

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compaction; Earthwork; Plasticity; Soils; Water; Water resources; Wetting
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dry soils
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01081020
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 26 2007 9:54AM