00471829

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1986/1089/1089-005.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...TERS&publication_year=1986

Loess is an aeolian soil consisting primarily of silt. The silt particles along with a lesser percentage of sand are coated by a clay binder, giving loess its unique structure. Because of the lack of development in the loessial soils of southeastern Washington, little is known about their engineerng characterisics. However, recent highway construction requiring large cut slopes has prompted interest. The results of a literature review of engineering characteristics of loess and an evaluation of the physical properties of southeastern Washington loess related to design of cut slopes are presented. A map shows the general distribution of clayey, silty, and sandy loess. Results to date indicate that the basic physical properties of southeastern Washington loess are quite similar to those from deposits in the central United States. Water content tends to increase from west to east because of increasing clay content and precipitation to the east. Washigton loess has a slightly lower plasticity than midwestern deposits, possibly because of greater illite and lower montmorillinite content. Based on experience in the midwestern United States and observations of existing cut slopes in southeastern Washington, design recommendations are presented. Near-vertical cuts are recommended in silty loess with low water content, and flatter cuts (approximately 2.5:1 H:V) are recommended in clayey loess and silty loess with high water content. Adequate surface drainage is a key factor of slope design. erest.

Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Soil and Rock Properties.Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

01418818

pp 29-38

1986

Transportation Research Record

0309041090

Print

Figures (9) ; Maps (4) ; Photos (2) ; References (23)

Alignment; Clay; Design; Drainage; Embankments; Illites; Loess; Moisture content; Montmorillonite; Physical properties; Plasticity; Recommendations; Silts; Soils

Vertical alignment

Washington (State)

Washington (State)

Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Research; I42: Soil Mechanics

TRIS, TRB

Jul 31 1988 12:00AM

• ANALYSIS OF SLOPE FAILURE IN OVERCONSOLIDATED FISSURED RESIDUAL SOILS: A CASE STUDY
• COMPRESSIBILITY OF COMPACTED FILLS EVALUATED BY THE DILATOMETER
• CONSTRUCTION METHODS TO CONTROL EXPANSIVE SOILS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
• CONTROL OF FROST PENETRATION IN ROAD SHOULDERS WITH INSULATION BOARDS
• DEFORMATION ANALYSES OF FLORIDA HIGHWAY SUBGRADE SAND SUBJECTED TO REPEATED LOAD TRIAXIAL TESTS
• DETERMINATION OF THE CRITICAL THAW-WEAKENED PERIOD IN ASPHALT PAVEMENT STRUCTURES
• DRAINED-STRENGTH PARAMETERS FROM DIRECT SHEAR TESTS FOR SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSES IN OVERCONSOLIDATED FISSURED RESIDUAL SOILS
• DYNAMIC COMPACTION OF LOOSE AND HYDROCOMPACTIBLE SOILS ON INTERSTATE 90, WHITEHALL-CARDWELL, MONTANA
• EXPERIMENTAL ASPECTS OF MERCURY INTRUSION POROSIMETRY
• FACTORS IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF FROST HEAVE SUSCEPTIBILITY CRITERIA FOR COARSE-GRAINED SOILS
• FLEXURAL FATIGUE STRENGTH OF LIME-LATERITE SOIL MIXTURES
• FROST ACTION PREDICTIVE TECHNIQUES: AN OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH RESULTS
• GENESIS AND DISTRIBUTION OF COLLUVIUM IN BUFFALO CREEK AREA, MARION COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
• LOCATING SUBSURFACE GRAVEL WITH THERMAL IMAGERY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS
• MEASUREMENT OF PORE-SIZE DENSITY FUNCTION IN SAND
• PERFORMANCE OF CEMENT-MODIFIED SOILS: A FOLLOW-UP REPORT
• SATURATION EFFECTS ON CALCAREOUS DESERT SANDS
• THE PRESSUREMETER IN GEOTECHNICAL PRACTICE
• THE SHERMAN LANDSLIDE: A CASE HISTORY
• USE OF ROTATIONAL EROSION DEVICE ON COHESIVE SOILS