Coupled Hydro-Mechanical Analysis of Highway Slope on Expansive Soil Subjected to Rainfall

Because of intensive precipitation and the presence of high-plastic Yazoo clay in central Jackson in Mississippi, shallow highway slope failures are a reoccurring phenomenon. Annually, the majority of highway slopes in central Mississippi experience shallow slope failures. The major objective of the current study is to evaluate the performance of two repaired highway slopes in the Jackson Metroplex neighborhood in Mississippi. The highway slope ratios are 3H:1V (Terry Road) and 6H:1V (McRaven Road). Soil boring and CPT testing were conducted as part of site investigations. Vertical slope inclinometers and precipitation gauge were also installed at the site slopes to record and detect displacement along the slope and real precipitation, respectively. One year after monitoring the slops, consecutive shallow slope movements were observed in late 2019. Based on the field monitoring results, the slopes became fully saturated. Impacting factors and potential failure conditions were verified with back analysis using the 3D Finite Element Method in the Plaxis. Based on the 3D coupled flow-deformation analysis results, the progressive precipitation infiltrated in the top soil which significantly impacted the reduction in soil matric suction and creates a perched water zone, which reduced the factor of safety closed to 1.0. Based on the field and numerical observations, the development of the perched water zone as a result of continuous precipitation led to slope surficial layer movements.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784483695.017
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780784483695
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Nobahar, M
  • Khan, M S
  • Ivoke, J
  • Shuman, N M
  • Amini, F
• Conference:
  • Geo-Extreme 2021
  • Location: Savannah Georgia, United States
  • Date: 2021-11-7 to 2021-11-10
• Publication Date: 2021

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: pp 167-177
• Monograph Title: Geo-Extreme 2021: Climatic Extremes and Earthquake Modeling

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highways; Rainfall; Slope stability; Swelling soils
• Geographic Terms: Jackson (Mississippi)
• Subject Areas: Environment; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01788857
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784483695
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Nov 18 2021 12:14PM