Electrokinetic strengthening of slopes - Case history

Traditional embankment stabilisation techniques can have severe environmental impacts during construction and frequently leave behind a stark legacy of a bare embankment unsuitable for wildlife and unsightly for local residents. Electrokinetic geosynthetic (EKG) strengthening of slopes is a multi component treatment method which includes dewatering by electro-osmosis; reinforcement; drainage and soil modification. The method offers economic and environmental benefits. This paper provides a brief review of the electrokinetic concept as it applies to failed slopes and illustrates the method with respect to the design, analysis, construction and verification of the stabilisation of a strategically important and environmentally sensitive highway embankment. The strengthening of the slope was achieved with a 29% reduction in cost and a 40% reduction in carbon footprint when compared to an adjacent embankment which had been remediated a year earlier using conventional soil nails. Following the repair the scheme was awarded an Institution of Civil Engineers Award for Innovation and a Green Apple Award for excellence in sustainable construction. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.