Effective stress analysis of the stability of embankments on soft soils

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study of stability by effective stress analysis of four embankments that were built to failure; three of these embankments are located in Narbonne, Lanester, and Cubzac in France, and the fourth one in Saint-Alban, Québec. After an outline of the procedures followed to obtain the required data and parameters, a brief discussion is presented on the defects inherent in the methods of analysis in terms of effective stresses. The factors of safety obtained by the effective stress analyses are compared with the results of total stress analyses. It is concluded that, in spite of the limitations of the method of effective stress analysis, this approach, as used in the present paper, remains a useful tool for the engineer.