Effects of Shrinkage and Swelling Behavior of High Plastic Clay on the Performance of a Highway Slope Reinforced with Recycled Plastic Pin

The Recycled Plastic Pin (RPP) is made from recycled plastics and waste materials (i.e., polymer, sawdust, fly ash etc.). It is a lightweight material and is less susceptible to chemical and biological degradation than the alternative reinforcing element. RPPs are driven into the slope face and provide additional resistance along the slip surface which increase the factor of safety against shallow slope failure. During the current study, a field investigation was conducted to study the performance of a highway slope, subjected to shrinkage and swelling behavior, when reinforced with RPPs. The slope was located over US 287 near the St. Paul overpass in Midlothian, Texas. Surficial movement had taken place over the slope, resulting in cracks over the shoulder, near the bridge abutment. Three 50 ft. sections over the slope were reinforced, using RPPs. After RPP installation, the slope was instrumented, using inclinometers, rain gauges, moisture sensors and water potential probes, and was monitored periodically. The performance monitoring results indicated that the shrinkage cracks created a loss-of-support condition during the dry summer, which reduced the resistance of RPPs. On the other hand, the support condition of the RPPs was restored during the wet period, due to the swelling of the high plastic clay soil, which enhanced the performance of the slope. Additionally, the load mobilization had taken place within the first year after construction, which may have reduced the effect of shrinkage and swelling behavior on the performance of slope.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFP10 Engineering Geology. Alternate title: Efect of Shrinkage and Swelling Behavior of High-Plastic Clay on Performance of Highway Slope Reinforced with Recycled Plastic Pin.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Khan, Mohammad Sadik
  • Hossain, MD Sahadat
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 14p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Expansive clays; Highways; Monitoring; Pins; Recycled materials; Reinforcing materials; Shrinkage; Slope failure; Slope stability; Swelling
• Geographic Terms: Midlothian (Texas)
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics; I51: Earthworks and Soil Drainage;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01551054
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-5423
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 27 2015 11:21AM