Construction of highway embankments over deposits of amorphous peat and muck is made difficult by the low shear strengths, high compressibilities, and excessive amounts of creep typically associated with soils of this type. The objective of this research was to develop a procedure for the design and construction of low embankments over such materials for use by the indiana department of highways. This paper begins with a review of the compression behaviour of these soils, including a method for predicting embankment settlements from the results of laboratory tests. A soil testing program is then developed for determining parameters required for embankment design and construction. Field vane shear tests are recommended for the measurement of the undrained shear strength, and creep tests are recommended for calculating parameters to predict settlement. The paper concludes by presenting a procedure for the design and construction of embankments over amorphous peats and mucks. The procedure relies on stageloading, preloading, and in some instances geotextiles, to overcome the problems ordinarily encountered during construction over such soft soils.
Samenvatting