Case study on effect of soil physical properties on slope slide damages of river embankment
2008
Uehara, R.(Niigata-shi. Government Office (Japan)) | Morii, T.
Any damage caused by slope slide deteriorates a mechanical safety and function of river embankment, and may cause a terrible disaster due to structural failure of the embankment and flood flow. A series of in-situ soil investigation and laboratory soil tests were conducted to study effects of soil physical properties on the small-scale slope failure of the river embankment which occurred during heavy rain in June, 2007. Soil density and water content along soil profile excavated into the embankment slope were measured by using soil sampler rod, and then a mass of soil was sampled from the damaged slope of the embankment to use in the laboratory soil tests. Physical properties of the soil such as density of soil particle, grain size distribution, and liquid and plastic limits were measured by the laboratory soil tests. Optimum water content and maximum dry density of soil were also measured by a compaction test to determine a degree of compaction along the soil profile in the embankment slope. It was confirmed that the slope slide was, as well known, strongly affected by the physical properties of soil employed in the construction of the river embankment. This means a good evaluation and selection of soil in the embankment construction will lead a good mitigation of its possible hazard due to slope failure of the embankment. It was also referred that a plant cover on soil surface may effectively reduce an amount of infiltration of rainwater into soil and possibility of slope failure or slide of the embankment.
اظهر المزيد [+] اقل [-]