EMBANKMENT STABILIZATION BY USE OF HORIZONTAL DRAINS

An embankment 24 m (about 80 ft) high that traverses a narrow valley on I-81 about 56 km (35 miles) south of Syracuse, New York, began to fail several years after construction. In the spring of 1973, the pavement dropped several centimeters to bring the cumulative patch to 46 cm (about 81 in.). Complete failure of the embankment was anticipated for the spring of 1974 because past movements had been largest during the spring and recent monitoring had indicated an increase in the rate of movement. A design for a stabilization project to counteract the effects of the hydrostatic pressure that was believed to be causing the failure was prepared that consisted of a berm and shear key at the toe of the embankment. Implementation of this design, however, could not be completed before spring. Therefore, it was decided to stabilize the embankment by decreasing the excess hydrostatic pressure by installing a system of horizontal drains, a projecxt that could be completed before spring and at a cost saving of $1,000,000. The project was completed in early spring of 1974, and the embankment has been stable since then. This paper describes the design, construction, and postconstruction evaluation of the project. In addition, observations and comments are made that should be of assistance in evaluating this method of stabilization for future projects. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/749/749-002.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EMBANKMENT+STABILIZATION+BY+USE+OF+HORIZONTAL+DRAINS&author=S.+Lamb&publication_year=1980
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/03090305905
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Embankments and Earth Slopes. 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:
  • Lamb, Stephen E
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 6-10
• Monograph Title: Embankment Stabilization and Soil Mechanics
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 749
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Berms; Design; Embankments; Highway design; Horizontal drains; Hydrostatic pressure; Soil stabilization; Stability (Mechanics)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Stabilization
• Old TRIS Terms: Embankment stability
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Marine Transportation; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00319349
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 03090305905
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 30 1980 12:00AM