Contributions to Géotechnique 1948–2008: Slope stability and embankment dams

Abstract

The paper reviews the main contributions to geotechnical engineering in the allied fields of slope stability and embankment dams over the past sixty years of Géotechni-que. Skempton's Rankine Lecture is probably the most important single contribution to the science of slope stability engineering, through the initial enunciation of the linked ideas of slip surfaces and residual strength. Embankment dam engineering papers do not have such a single identifiable seminal publication, but the contribution of Rankine Lecturers to the science of embankment dams is equally evident.

Failures in transport infrastructure embankments

“…The review does not include the failure of cut slopes (Leroueil, 2001), embankments on extensive soft ground (Chai et al, 2002;Lehtonen et al, 2015) or water retaining embankments such as canal embankments (Perry et al, 2003) and embankment dams Charles & Bromhead, 2008;Lees et al, 2013), which have received attention elsewhere in the literature. The review considers embankment failures due to the influence of weather and long term deterioration but does not consider failures where transport embankments intentionally or accidently act as coastal or fluvial flood defences (e.g.…”

Use of recycled crushed concrete and Secudrain in capillary barriers for slope stabilization

“…Numerous studies on the impact of heavy rainfall on slope stability using monitoring devices and numerical modelling have been carried out by Chipp et al (1982), Sweeney (1982), Pitts (1985), Krahn et al (1989), Fredlund and Rahardjo (1993), Lim et al (1996), Rahardjo et al (1998), Ng et al (2003Ng et al ( , 2008, Li et al (2005), Kovacevic et al (2007), Charles and Bromhead (2008), and Rouainia et al (2009). The effect of climate change in Singapore and elsewhere on slope stability may be detrimental to some public transport infrastructures (Anderson and Kneale 1980;Leroueil 2001;Toll 2001;Borga et al 2002;Brooks et al 2004;Smethurst et al 2006;O'Brien 2007;Kilsby et al 2009).…”