| Slope failures can be disruptive and dangerous to transportation agencies and the users of the systems. The use of slender reinforcing members for stabilization of slopes is advantageous in many situations, but the designs for this method involve many uncertainties. The primary objective of the research presented is to reliably recreate large-scale model slope failures in the laboratory while monitoring the responses of reinforcing members, to acquire accurate measurements of resistance provided by reinforcing members. With reliable information uncertainties in design can be reduced to provide safe and more economical designs.; Seven 25,000 lb model slopes were created and incrementally tilted to a failure condition. All models were highly instrumented with pore pressure transducers and deformation gages. Results from tests show lateral pressures exerted from piles near the low end of current theories. Investigations indicate that relatively stiff reinforcing members do not mobilize passive pressures over the classically assumed pile lengths. Further investigations are needed, with appropriate similitude considerations, to further investigate soil-pile interactions, and effects from reticulation of members. |
