CENTRIFUGAL MODEL ANALYSIS OF COAL WASTE EMBANKMENT STABILITY

Centrifugal model embankmenst with varying geometries and materials were constructed of coal waste material, accelerated from 100 to 120 times earth's gravity, and subjected to various throughflow rates until failure occurred. Complementary laboratory tests were performed on the waste materials to obtain strength and permeability parameters for analytical calculations to predict observed centrifugal model behavior. Failures in the form of deep-seated failure, or erosion and sediment transport or a combination of both, occurred in model embankments with IV:1/2H and IV:2H slopes when the phreatic surface due to seepage exited on the downstream slope. Positive seepage control, i.e., a toe drain successfully prevented sloughing and failures. Slope stability analyses agreed well, albeit conservatively, with observed model performance. Factors of safety ranged from 0.7 to 1.02 at the instant of failure for models with retrogressing slips as compared with 1.05 to 1.7 for stable embankments. These models verified existing criteria of a minimum safety factor of 1.3 and the necessity of positive seepage control. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station

  Geotechnical Laboratory, 3909 Halls Ferry Road
  Vicksburg, MS  United States  39180-6199

  Bureau of Mines

  Spokane Mining Research Center
  Spokane, WA  United States  99207
• Authors:
  • Townsend, F C
  • Goodings, D J
  • SCHOFIELD, A N
  • Al-Hussaini, M M
• Publication Date: 1979-9

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 117 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Centrifuges; Coal; Drains; Embankments; Failure; Mathematical models; Permeability; Phreatic water; Scour; Seepage; Slope stability; Stability (Mechanics); Strength of materials; Wastes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models
• Old TRIS Terms: Embankment stability; Seepage erosion; Toe drains
• Subject Areas: Environment; Geotechnology; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00314663
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Tech Rpt. GL-79-18 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 18 1981 12:00AM