TREATMENT OF SOFT FOUNDATIONS FOR HIGHWAY EMBANKMENTS

Abstract

SOFT FOUNDATION MATERIALS USUALLY FOUND IN SWAMPS, MARSHES, BOGS, RIVER AND LAKE BOTTOMS, AND LACUSTRINE CLAY AREAS REQUIRE TREATMENTS TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS OF FLAT TOPOGRAPHY, POOR DRAINAGE, AND FINE-GRAINED OR ORGANIC SOILS. THE METHODS OR TREATMENTS USED FOR CONSTRUCTING EMBANKMENTS ON SOFT FOUNDATIONS MUST CONSIDER THE ECONOMICS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE END RESULTS DESIRED. THE CHOICE OF THE BEST METHOD IS DEPENDENT ON THE EVALUATION OF ALL THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS SUCH AS EMBANKMENT DIMENSIONS, CHARACTERISTICS OF FOUNDATION SOIL, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AVAILABLE, CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE PLANNED, LOCATION, AND CLASS OF HIGHWAY.