Analysis of the behaviour of the high and steep slope of a road made through waste under the influence of rainfall

Abstract

Investments in made ground are a big problem. The present investigation concerns ground derived from limestone treatment waste from SOLVAY soda plants. This waste is deposited in the southern area of Krakow in a reservoir called ‘White Seas’ in an area of approximately 15 ha. Currently, part of the route and tram investment, ‘The Łagiewniki Route’ Currently through the ‘White Seas’ area. The article presents an analysis of a section of this route by a high and steep slope made from made ground. The first stage of the in-situ measurements was to scan the shape of the high slope with the RIEGL VZ-400 terrestrial laser scanner. It was necessary to obtain the shape of the slope for numerical modelling using the FEM method. The point cloud perfectly reflected the shape of the slope with an accuracy of 5 mm. Soil samples (limestone waste) were also collected in the area of the slope for laboratory tests. In order to determine the effective strength parameters of the made ground of the embankment, a series of tests was carried out using triaxial compression apparatus. All triaxial tests were performed in accordance with British Standard 1337 Part 8. Modelling was performed using an FEM finite element method in MIDAS. The analyses also included the variant of irrigation of made ground. The conducted research shows that the high and steep slope made from calcareous waste indicates stability. The irrigated land did not make the high escarpment unstable.

Keywords

• triaxial test
• slope stability
• fem