Slope Stabilization Using Recycled Plastic Pins, Phase III.

Details

• Creators:
  Loehr, J. E. ; Bowders, John J.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Missouri--Columbia. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering ; Missouri. Department of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Slope stability
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  Missouri. Department of Transportation
• Abstract:
  A new technique for stabilizing surficial slope failures using recycled plastic reinforcing members has been developed. The ; objective of the project described in this report has been to develop, evaluate, and document a technique for stabilization of surficial ; slope failures using recycled plastic reinforcing members. The project has been undertaken in three sequential phases to provide for ; logical evaluation of project accomplishments and refinement of the scope of work based on results of activities undertaken ; throughout the project. This report is the final technical report for the entire three phase project, which describes the accumulated ; activities performed throughout all three phases of the project. ; The principal project tasks undertaken include development of a general design methodology, evaluation of the material properties of ; recycled plastic members from several different manufacturers, establishment of full-scale field test sections at five different sites, ; monitoring the performance of these sites for periods ranging from two to five years, evaluation and interpretation of field ; observations, “calibration” of the developed design method, and finally, development of technology transfer materials. ; The following conclusions are drawn from the work performed as part of this project: (1) the technique of using recycled plastic ; reinforcement to stabilize surficial slope failures has proven to be effective at providing long-term stabilization; (2) observed ; performance at the test sites suggests a typical behavioral pattern consisting of an initial period in which little movement is observed ; and little load is transferred to the reinforcement, a period of increasing movement and increasing mobilized loads in the ; reinforcement, followed by a period of stabilized movements and loads in the reinforcing members as a result of the slope coming to ; equilibrium; (3) while the required member spacing depends on the conditions present at a site, a “standard” pattern that appears ; sufficient for most sites consists of using recycled plastic reinforcing members placed in a 3-ft by 3-ft (0.9-m by 0.9-m) staggered ; arrangement over the entire slide area; (4) reliable installation can be accomplished with either a percussion hammer similar to what ; is used on many drill rigs, or a simple drop-weight hammer similar to what is used to install guard rail posts; (5) care must be used ; when selecting recycled plastic products for use in slope stabilization applications as the properties of these materials can vary ; substantially from product to product; and (6) costs for the technique vary with the reinforcement pattern selected but appear to be ; substantially less than those for most other competing slope stabilization technologies. ; Given the cost effectiveness and successful demonstration of the technique, it is recommended that the technique be implemented in ; “production” operations. The primary challenges to implementation are likely to involve developing appropriate contracting ; methods for selection of qualified installation contractors and for acquisition of suitable recycled plastic product. In the early phases ; of implementation, it is further recommended that limited monitoring be performed of both construction operations as well as post ; construction performance to further expand the database of cases where the technique has been used and to provide for reliable ; evaluation of the technique in production operations.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  RI98-007D
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/3287/dot_3287_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 7.25 MB]
• Collection(s):
  ITSJPO Digital Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:97267798af3c913991bb6d6bb4ceb653da64abd67cfdf25f178c3e0e37c7ed7847f8e2715c64209be316e14cd28c6e98c110f2a22d99b9893ca7f35353b2de69