SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE USE OF HORIZONTAL DRAINS IN THE CORRECTION AND PREVENTION OF LANDSLIDES

Subsurface water may act in any number of ways to reduce the stability of cuts and embankments. Among these are decrease in cohesion, subsurface erosion, lateral pressure in fractures and joints, and excess pore water pressure. One way of removing subsurface water is through the use of horizonal drains, which are holes drilled into an embankment or cut slope and cased with a perforated metal of slotted plastic liner. The equipment, materials and procedures used in the drilling and installation of horizontal drains have been improved and refined considerably since the California Division of Highways first introduced their "hydrauger" in 1939. The development of PVC pipe, improvements in drill bits and drill stem, and the develoment of drilling machines capable of producing high thrust and torque has made subsurface drainage a significant and economical alternative in the repair and prevention of some types of landslides. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has installed more than 46,000 m (150,000') of horizontal drains since 1972 in the stabilization and prevention of landslides involving several different geologic materials and conditions. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared for presentation at the 28th Annual Highway Geology Symposium, Rapid City, SOuth Dakota, August, 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  Tennessee Department of Transportation

  805 Transportation Building
  Nashville, TN  United States  37219
• Authors:
  • Royster, D L
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 54 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drilling machines; Embankments; Erosion; Groundwater; Horizontal drains; Landslides; Pore water pressures; Soil stabilization; Soils
• Uncontrolled Terms: Lateral pressure; Stabilization
• Old TRIS Terms: Drilling equipment; Liners
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00164085
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 9 1977 12:00AM