HIGHWAY AND RAILROAD ENGINEERING
Activity #1-Final Term
1. Types of Slope protection
• Definition and Sample Pictures
• Materials used
• Advantages and disadvantages
2. Types of Retaining Walls
• Definition and Sample Pictures
• Materials used
• Advantage and Disadvantage
BENGCO, NATHANIEL C. BSCE – 2
1. TYPES OF SLOPE PROTECTION
• Vegetative Slope Protection:
• Definition: Utilizing vegetation to stabilize and protect slopes from erosion.
• Materials Used: Grass seeds, erosion control blankets, biodegradable erosion control mats, live cuttings
(e.g., willow stakes), native plants.
• Advantages: Natural aesthetic, promotes biodiversity, cost-effective, reduces soil erosion, provides
habitat for wildlife.
• Disadvantages: Requires time for vegetation to establish, maintenance needed for weed control and
watering, less effective in high-flow or steep slope areas.
• Geosynthetic Slope Protection:
• Definition: Using synthetic materials designed to reinforce slopes and control erosion.
• Materials Used: Geogrids, geotextiles, geomembranes, erosion control blankets.
• Advantages: Provides immediate erosion protection, durable, customizable to specific site conditions,
reduces maintenance compared to vegetative methods.
• Disadvantages: High initial installation cost, may require professional installation, may not blend as
naturally with the environment.
• Gabion Slope Protection:
• Definition: Constructing wire mesh baskets filled with stones or other materials to stabilize slopes.
• Materials Used: Wire mesh baskets (gabions), stones, rocks, recycled concrete.
• Advantages: Effective erosion control, flexible and adaptable to various slope shapes, allows for natural
drainage, durable.
• Disadvantages: High initial cost, requires heavy machinery for installation, maintenance may involve
replacing or adding stones.
• Concrete Revetments:
• Definition: Building concrete structures or walls along slopes to prevent erosion.
• Materials Used: Concrete, steel reinforcement bars (rebar).
• Advantages: Strong erosion protection, long-lasting, suitable for high-flow areas, can be designed to
match aesthetics.
• Disadvantages: Expensive to install, visually unattractive, limited ecological benefits compared to
vegetative methods.
• Soil Nailing:
• Definition: Soil nailing is a remedial construction measure to treat unstable natural soil slopes or
unstable man-made (fill) slopes as a construction technique that allows the safe over-steepening of
new or existing soil slopes.
• Materials Used: Steel bars (rebar), shotcrete, grout.
• Advantages: Effective for stabilizing steep slopes, relatively quick installation, minimal disturbance to
surrounding environment.
• Disadvantages: Requires specialized equipment and skilled labor, can be expensive, not suitable for all
soil types or slope conditions.
Each of these methods has its own set of advantages and disadvantages,
and the choice depends on factors such as slope characteristics,
environmental considerations, budget, and desired aesthetic.
2. TYPES OF RETAINING WALLS
• Gravity Retaining Walls:
• Definition: Gravity retaining walls rely on their weight and mass to resist the pressure of the soil behind
them. They are typically made from heavy materials like concrete or stone. Gravity retaining walls rely
on their weight and mass to resist the pressure of the soil behind them. They are typically made from
heavy materials like concrete or stone.
• Materials Used: Concrete blocks, natural stone, brick, precast concrete panels.
• Advantages: Simple design, durable, suitable for a wide range of soil conditions, can be aesthetically
pleasing.
• Disadvantages: Requires substantial space for construction, limited height without additional
reinforcement, can be labor-intensive to install.
• Cantilever Retaining Walls:
• Definition: Cantilever retaining walls are constructed with a reinforced concrete slab or wall
extending into the retained soil, creating a lever arm that resists the pressure from behind.
• Materials Used: Reinforced concrete.
• Advantages: More efficient use of materials compared to gravity walls, suitable for medium to
tall walls, can accommodate some degree of movement.
• Disadvantages: Requires careful design and engineering, skilled labor for construction, relatively
higher initial cost.
• Sheet Pile Retaining Walls:
• Definition: Sheet pile walls are made from interlocking steel, vinyl, or wood sheets that are driven into
the ground to form a continuous barrier. They are commonly used in waterfront applications.
• Materials Used: Steel, vinyl, wood.
• Advantages: Effective in limited space, quick installation, suitable for waterfront applications, can be
reused in some cases.
• Disadvantages: Limited to certain soil types, may require temporary support during construction,
corrosion can be a concern in steel sheet piles.
• Anchored Retaining Walls:
• Definition: Anchored retaining walls are similar to cantilever walls but incorporate anchors or tiebacks
extending into the retained soil, increasing stability and allowing for taller wall heights.
• Materials Used: Similar to cantilever walls, with additional materials for anchors or tiebacks such as
steel rods or cables.
• Advantages: Allows for taller walls and thinner sections, suitable for challenging soil conditions, can
accommodate high loads.
• Disadvantages: Complex design and construction, requires specialized equipment and expertise, higher
cost compared to other types.
• Piled Retaining Walls:
• Definition: Piled retaining walls involve driving or drilling piles into the ground to support a structure
that retains soil or water. Piles are essentially long, slender structural elements made of materials such
as steel, concrete, or timber, and they can be installed vertically or at an angle depending on the design
requirements.
• Materials Used: Piles can be made of various materials, including:
• Steel: Steel H-piles, pipe piles, or sheet piles.
• Concrete: Pre-cast or cast-in-place concrete piles.
• Timber: Treated timber piles.
• Advantages:
• Versatility: Piled retaining walls can be constructed in various soil conditions, including soft or
loose soils.
• High load-bearing capacity: Piles can support significant loads, making them suitable for
retaining tall slopes or heavy surcharge loads.
• Minimal disturbance: Piling operations typically involve minimal excavation, reducing disruption
to surrounding areas.
• Durability: Piles made of steel or concrete are resistant to corrosion and decay.
• Disadvantages:
• Specialized equipment: Installation of piles may require specialized equipment such as pile
drivers or drilling rigs, which can add to the overall cost.
• Design complexity: Designing piled retaining walls requires careful consideration of soil
conditions, structural loads, and pile spacing, which may require input from geotechnical and
structural engineers.
