01557107

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2462-01

For cast-in-place abutments and retaining walls, structural backfill is preferred to be free-draining, which generally implies less than 5% fines content. This fines content is expected to eliminate the need to design for hydrostatic pressures. The availability of high-quality structural backfill with naturally low fines content is declining. This situation warrants an evaluation of whether granular backfill materials with greater than 5% fines content could be successfully used in practice. Flexible wall, hydraulic conductivity tests on a granular structural backfill with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% nonplastic fines content were conducted at 41, 83, and 124 kPa (6, 12, and 18 psi) confining pressures followed by consolidated drained triaxial compression tests for obtaining associated drained shear strength parameters of these gradations. The 15.2-cm (6-in.) diameter specimens were prepared at optimum moisture content and 95% of maximum standard Proctor density. To enable a comparison with respect to modified Proctor maximum densities, modified Proctor tests were also performed for all base soil–fines content mixtures. The experimental results were compared with relevant studies found in the literature. This research indicates that a nonplastic fines content up to 10% may be justified in structural backfill specifications for retaining walls and abutments.

01556971

14-4120

English

pp 1–6

2014

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309295536

Print

Figures (3) ; References (19) ; Tables (4)

Abutments; Backfill soils; Fines (Materials); Permeability coefficient; Retaining walls; Shear strength

Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I30: Materials; I42: Soil Mechanics

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 27 2014 3:25PM

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