Effect of Water‐Content Variability in Design of Clay Embankments

Abstract

The effects of the variability of the as‐compacted field water content are examined for a clay of medium to low plasticity. This soil had been studied in great detail earlier, and a large data base of parameters for the field‐compacted soil was available. A hypothetical embankment was examined for a number of in service conditions with respect to the factor of safety of side slopes. Clearly shown is that the range of water content in the embankment at time of compaction is the most important characteristic of the earthwork in design of the cross section. The wider the range of water content the less steep can be the design slope for a given factor of safety. Controlling the water content at time of compaction in a more stringent manner offers potential for cost reductions in embankment construction.