Ground and Water:

th
Theory to Practice
rd
Proceedings of the 55 Canadian Geotechnical and 3 Joint IAH-CNC and CGS Groundwater Specialty Conferences, Niagara Falls, Ontario, October 20-23, 2002
Edited by D. Stolle, A.R. Piggott and J.J. Crowder and published by the Southern Ontario Section of the Canadian Geotechnical Society

INSTRUMENTATION MONITORING FOR HIGHWAY FILL

CONSTRUCTION AT IOSEGUN RIVER CROSSING, HIGHWAY 43,
NORTHERN ALBERTA
Karl Li, EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd, Edmonton, Alberta
Roger Skirrow, Technical Standards Branch, Alberta Transportation Edmonton, Alberta

ABSTRACT
Rate controlled fill placement and installation of wick drains were required for the twinning of a highway across the deep,
soft foundation soils of the Iosegun River valley. An instrumentation program was implemented to monitor excess pore
water pressures, lateral movements and settlements developed during and after fill placement. Using an observational
approach, the rate of fill placement was adjusted according to changes in pore pressure, settlement and lateral
movement monitored. Consolidation induced improvement of the strength of the foundation soil within the footprint of the
wick drains installation was confirmed by CPT testing undertaken nine months after final completion of fill. The monitored
pore pressure and settlement results were in agreement with the predicted values used in design. This paper describes
the geotechnical instrumentation program and monitoring results to date. A companion paper in these proceedings
presents the results of the geotechnical investigation and mitigation designs for the project.

RÉSUMÉ
Le jumelage d´une autoroute qui traverse les sols de fondation moux et profonds de la vallée de la Rivière Iosegun a
nécessité la mise en place du remblai à vitesse contrôlée et l´installation de drains de papier. Un programme
d´instrumentation a été mis en place pour mesurer les pressions interstitielles et les tassements induits lors de la mise
en place du remblai et suite à la mise en place du remblai. La vitesse de la mise en place du remblai a été ajustée en
continu, en fonction des changements de pression interstitielle observées et des tassements et déplacements latéraux
mesurés. L´amélioration de la portance des sols de fondation à l´intérieur de l´enveloppe des drains de papier, et induite
par la consolidation, a été confirmée par les essais au piézocône effectués neuf mois après la dernière mise en place du
remblai. Les pression interstitielles et tassements mesurés ont été en accord avec les valeurs calculées lors de la
conception des travaux. Cet article décrit le programme d´instrumentation géotechnique et les résultats du programme
de suivi. Un autre article dans ces comptes rendus présente les résultats de l'étude géotechnique et la conception des
mesures de contrôle envisagées.

1. INTRODUCTION used. Vertical slope indicators were also installed at the

crest of a cut slope due to concerns about a pipeline
The twinning of Hwy 43 across the Iosegun River valley adjacent to the cut. The results of that portion of the
required the construction of 6 to 13 m fill heights across a monitoring program are not provided in this paper.
500 m stretch of very soft, deep, meltwater channel
deposits that extended to 30 m in depth. In order to
successfully construct the project and achieve satisfactory 2. INSTRUMENTATION
long-term highway and bridge performance, it was
necessary to implement staged construction, deep The geotechnical instrumentation included a total of 40
drainage measures (strip drain, sand blanket and wicks), piezometers (PP), 1 vibrating wire (VW) settlement cell
a stabilizing saddle berm for a high fill embankment, (SC), 13 temporary settlement plates (SP), 1 horizontal
mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) bridge headslopes, slope indicator (HSI) and 4 vertical slope indicators (VSI).
and surcharge loading. Installation and monitoring of Shortly after completion of the fill, 17 surface monuments
geotechnical instrumentation was done to: confirm design or survey pins (SM) were installed at regular intervals.
assumptions; adjust the rate of fill placement to ensure The layout of instrumentation is shown in Figure 1.
the stability of the embankment, and; measure the
progress of fill settlement and foundation consolidation. 2.1 Installation and Objectives
This paper presents a summary of the (1) instrumentation
installation, (2) as-constructed staged fill placement The instrumentation was installed in the following
schedule; (3) results of the pore pressure, settlement and sequence during construction:
lateral movement monitoring; and (4) the foundation soil
consolidation-induced strength gain. The PPs, HSI and SC were installed after completion of
the sand blanket, and during installation of the wick
The paper presents a discussion of results at selected drains. The VSIs were installed after completion of the
high embankment fill areas and steep, low, bridge fill saddle berm construction. The SPs were installed after
headslope where wicks were installed as well as results the completion of the majority of the fill in the first year of
from an embankment fill area where wick drains were not construction. The SMs were installed after the completion

263
Ground and Water: Theory to Practice

Figure 1. Layout of Instrumentations

of the surcharge fill in the second year of construction. the fill. The SPs were surveyed 3 times during the 9-
month interval between first and second year
Pneumatic piezometers were installed at varying depths construction.
and locations along, and across, the fill footprint. During
the fill placement, the monitored pore pressure data was 2.3 Improvement of Soil Strength
used to regulate the rate of construction.
The effect of soil improvement from consolidation due to
The settlement devices measured the elastic settlement fill placement was investigated with CPT (May 2002) in
at the top portion of the sand blanket as the fill was being comparison with previous (1999) results to verify the
placed and the subsequent consolidation with time. The improvement in undrained soil strength (Su) achieved
HSI was used at the low fill headslope because of after a total consolidation duration of 1.5 years. The CPT
economy and small footprint area; the more expensive holes done in 2002 were located as close as possible to
VW cell was used at the high fill where greater those advanced in 1999.
settlements were expected to occur.

The VSIs monitored the deformation, and by inference the 3. MONITORING RESULTS
stability, of the fill slopes. The SPs were installed to
supplement the SC and HSI data, to “gauge” the crude Different behaviors of pore pressure response were
settlement profile along the valley crossing and at five observed for the high fill area, with wick drains, and low fill
cross-sections perpendicular to the alignment. The area without wicks. At the fill area with wicks, significant
settlement data was used to assist in calculation of the upward hydraulic gradients were observed. This
thickness of the surcharge fill placed during the second dissipation of excess pore in the shallow area was the
construction season. result of effectiveness of the wicks to provide vertical
drainage. At the fill area without wicks, higher pore
The SMs consisted of rebar, installed at 20 m intervals for pressures were monitored at shallower depth with
approximately 300 m stretch (Sta. 16+940 to 17+300). decreasing pore pressure observed at increasing depths.
The SMs were used for long term surface monitoring. The non-dissipation of excess pore pressure at shallow
depth was due to the lack of vertical drainage without use
2.2 Monitoring Frequency of wicks

All instruments were monitored regularly (daily or as For the wicks areas, high pore pressure ratios (@ B =0.5
required) during fill placement and intermittently after to 0.8) were observed at high fill areas whereas at the low
completion of fill placement. Fill placement rates were fill area, the pore pressure generally stabilized at the top
restricted to about 1 to 1.5m per week or longer durations. of the sand blanket. At the high fill area, approximately
The slope indicators and settlement cells were monitored 3.5 m of settlement were monitored over a 1.5-year
at weekly to monthly intervals during construction; post- duration, for a fill height of approximately 13 m. The
construction monitoring will be at semi-annual intervals. monitored settlement was approximately 80% of the
The surface monuments will be surveyed semi-annually to estimated value at high fill area. At the low fill area,
annually to gauge the settlement conditions at the top of approximately 1.2 m of settlement was monitored over the

264
 Li and Skirrow

same duration, for a fill height of approximately 6 m. The This section presents the behaviour of pore pressure
monitored settlement was approximately 50% of the response, settlement and lateral movement for the 13 m
estimated value at low fill area. high fill saddle berm embankment with wicks installation.

For the area with wicks, no major lateral movement was 3.1.1 Pore Pressure
observed from VSI results. At the fill area of no wicks,
some minor creep and lateral spreading movement of In Figure 2a, the summary of stabilized pore pressures
foundation soil can be observed. are presented for various depths below the high fill
embankment where wicks are installed. Pore pressure
3.1 High Fill Saddle Berm Area with Wicks generally dissipated and stabilized to a lower value at 2 to
4 weeks after placement of a fill lift. The figure shows that
higher pore pressures were present at lower elevations.
The increase of excess pore pressure with depth
indicates the presence of an upward vertical hydraulic
flow gradient indicating the effectiveness of the wicks in
dissipating excess pore pressure in the shallow area. This
gradient serves to drive seepage flow upward through the
wick drains where it dissipates in the sand blanket drain.
Site observations confirmed that there was substantial
outflow from the sand blanket.

Figure 2a. Summary of Pore Pressure at High Fill with

wicks (Sta. 17+000)

Sta 17+000 - CL, Nest D

815

810
D 10
Elevation (m)

805
Fill Height
D 9
800
Original Ground

795

Figure 3. Lateral deflection (VSI-3) at High Fill

01-Oct-00

30-Nov-00

29-Jan-01

30-Mar-01

29-May-01

28-Jul-01

26-Sep-01

25-Nov-01

24-Jan-02

25-Mar-02

24-May-02

23-Jul-02

Saddle Berm (Sta. 17+000)

Date

Figure 2b. Pore Pressure response vs. Fill

Excess pore pressures in the foundation soils, B , were
Placement (centreline)
greater in the core (@ B =0.8) than the saddle berm area
(@ B =0.5) of the fill.

Sta 17+000, 32N - Nest F In Figures 2b, 2c, the pore pressure response to the fill
805
placement is presented. Increased pore pressures were
Fill Height
observed in response to increases in fill height.
F 16 Dissipation rates were consistent with the consolidation
Elevation (m)

800
F 15 model predictions.
Original Ground F 14

3.1.2 Lateral Movement

795
One VSI was installed at the top of the saddle berm to
01-Oct-00

30-Nov-00

29-Jan-01

30-Mar-01

29-May-01

28-Jul-01

26-Sep-01

25-Nov-01

24-Jan-02

25-Mar-02

24-May-02

23-Jul-02

40 m depth. The monitoring results are shown on

Date
Figure 3. The location of the VSI is shown on Figure 2a.

Figure 2c. Pore Pressure response vs. Fill Figure 3 shows:

Placement (20 m N at saddle berm)
• No movement in the top portion of the VSI, which
may indicate that the relatively stiff saddle berm was
effective in resisting lateral spreading within the fill.

265
Ground and Water: Theory to Practice

• Some shear movement (40 to 50 mm) was noted at

24 to 25 m depth near the base of wick drain
installation. The minor movement in this zone may be
the result of improved soil strength within the zone of
wick installation due to consolidation of the soft
channel deposits.

Sta 17+000 - 0.5 N, Settlement Cell

810

Fill Height
FILL HEIGHT = A + B

805

FILL B
Elevation (m)

800

SETTLEMENT A Original
Ground

9 months 9 months
795
1-Oct-00

30-Nov-00

29-Jan-01

30-Mar-01

29-May-01

28-Jul-01

26-Sep-01

25-Nov-01

24-Jan-02

25-Mar-02

24-May-02

23-Jul-02
Date

Figure 4. Settlement Response vs. Fill Placement with Wicks at High Fill Area

• Some lateral spreading (approximately 100 mm) was

monitored at just below the elevation of original
ground. This movement can be interpreted as
outward movement of the original ground below the
berm. The VSI was pinched at a 13 to 14 m depth,
after a duration of 9 months. It is possible that a
combination of downdrag and differential lateral
spreading between different soil zones pinched off
the VSI casing.

3.1.3 Settlement

The high fill settlements, as monitored by the SC are Figure 5a. Summary of Pore Pressure Response at
presented in Figure 4. Headslope Fill (Sta. 17+140) with wicks

The settlement results show that 90 to 95% of the ultimate

consolidation was achieved within a nine month period 805
Sta 17+145 - CL, Nest H

after fill placement. This is in agreement with the Fill Height

predicted rate of settlement.
Elevation (m)

3.2 Low Fill Area (Bridge Headslope Sta. 17+145) with 800
Original Ground

Wicks H 21
H 20

H 19

3.2.1 Pore Pressure 795

01-Oct-00

30-Nov-00

29-Jan-0 1

30-Mar-01

29-May-01

28-Jul-01

26-Sep-01

25-Nov-01

24-Jan-0 2

25-Mar-02

24-May-02

23-Jul-02

Piezometers were installed at varying depths within an 8m

Date
zone beneath the 6 m thick fill footprint area with wicks
installation. A summary of the pore pressure response is Figure 5b. Pore Pressure response vs. Fill
shown on Figure 5a. The results for the piezometer nests Placement (centreline)
at the centreline and toe of the fill are presented in Figure
5b.

266
 Li and Skirrow

LEGEND
Maximum deflection 669.844 mm at 34.7 m
Initial 21 Oct2000
Reference Elevation 800.75
21 Oct2000
Station 17+144 (wicks area)
27 Oct2000

25 Nov2000

VSI-2
River

River Flow
Channel
4 Jan2001 MSE SLOPE
A’

6m
2.5

North
H:1
26 Mar2001 VSI-2 HSI-1 1m SAND BLANKET V

Soft Channel
22 Oct2001 A Deposits (42m depth)

PLAN SECTION A - A’

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50
1000

1000
0

Center Line
500

500

Cumulative Deflection
Deflection (mm)

Direction A
0

0
-500

-500
26m N

19m S
-1000

-1000
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50
Horizontal Distance (m)

Figure 6a. Settlement Response (HIS-1) vs. Fill Placement with Wicks at MSI Headslope

The build-up of excess pore pressure was less evident in Deflection (mm) Deflection (mm)

the low fill area than the high fill areas. The reduced -60 -30 0 30 60
LEGEND
-60 -30 0 30 60

0 0 0 0
thickness of fill (2 to 4 m) above the sand blanket, the Top of wicks
Initial 25 Nov2000

2 May2001

slow rate of staged construction and the good drainage 25 May2002

5 5 5 5
performance of the manufactured sand drainage blanket
combined to limit the build-up of pore pressure. In
10 10 10 10
general, the pore pressures equalized to the top of the
sand blanket. A significant upward pore pressure gradient
was not observed.
15 15 15 15

20 Bottom of Wicks
Based on these findings one could interpret that in areas
20 20 20
Depth Depth

of low fill, and hence a narrow footprint or width of fill, it

(m) (m)

may be possible to use shallower wick drains or otherwise

25 25 25 25

optimize the wick drain design.

30 30 30 30

3.2.2 Lateral Movement

35 East 35 35 North 35

A VSI was installed to over 40 m depth at the northwest Ref. Elevation

corner of the headslope just above the sand blanket 40 40 802.82 40 40

elevation as shown in Figure 1. Figure 6b shows the -60 -30 0 30 60 -60 -30 0 30 60

lateral movements measured at this VSI. The figure Cumulative Deflection

Direction A
Cumulative Deflection
Direction B
shows that only minor surface movement occurred; Figure 6b. Lateral Movement (VSI-2) at MSE
indicative of the relative rigidity of the sand blanket and Headslope
mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) bridge headslope
fills.
one-year duration for a 4 m fill height. An additional 0.2 m
Minor bulging of about 25 mm was measured within the of settlement was measured over a nine month duration
depth of wick installation which is also indicative of the after a 2 m surcharge fill was placed over the low fill area.
improved soil strength of the consolidated fill relative to A comparison of the measured settlement of low and high
the adjacent area below the river with no wicks installed. fill areas suggests that surcharge loading is important in
achieving the 95 to 98% consolidation target. The
3.2.3 Settlement surcharge is perhaps more important in the low fill areas.

An HSI was installed within the sand blanket across the 3.3 Fill Area Without Use of Wicks (Station 17+600
base of the west headslope at the location shown in @ 8 m fill)
Figure 1.
Wick drains were not installed in an area east of the river
The settlement results (HSI-1) are presented in Figure 6a. where better soil strengths were found. Monitoring results
Approximately 1.2 m of settlement was monitored over a

267
Ground and Water: Theory to Practice

from this area are presented as a counterpoint to the Deflection (mm) Deflection (mm)
monitoring results from wick drain areas. -80 -40 0 40 80 LEGEND -80 -40 0 40 80
0 0 Initial 26 Nov2000
0 0
1 May2001
3.3.1 Pore Pressure 25 May2002
4 4 4 4

Piezometric response results are summarized in Figure

7a. Figures 7b and 7c show the pore pressure response 8 8 8 8

along the embankment centerline and at the toe area of

the fill. 12 12 12 12

Depth Depth
(m) 16 16 (m) 16 16

20 20 20 20

S outh West
24 24 24 24

28 28 Ref. Elevation 28 28
804.98

Cumulative Deflection Cumulative Deflection

Direction A Direction B

Figure 7a. Summary of Pore Pressure at Fill without

wicks and VSI-4 location (Sat 17+600) Figure 8. Lateral Movement (VSI-4) at Fill without wicks
(Sta. 17+600)

820
17+600 - 10 S, Nest N A pore pressure ratio ( B ) of 0.5 or above was determined
N 30 for the center area of fill footprint. Dissipation of pore
Fill Height
815 pressure was observed at the toe area of the fill while
N 31
dissipation of pore pressure was not observed along the
Elevation (m)

centerline of the fill. The lack of wick drains and drainage

810
Original Ground

805
layer contribute to the lack of pore pressure dissipation.

800 3.3.2 Lateral Movement

Figure 7a shows the location of VSI installed at toe area

795
01-Oct-00

30-Nov-00

29-Jan-01

30-Mar-01

29-May-01

28-Jul-01

26-Sep-01

25-Nov-01

24-Jan-02

25-Mar-02

24-May-02

23-Jul-02

of fill slope. Figure 8 shows the lateral movement

Date measured by the VSI. Lateral spreading (over 70 mm) of
fill and foundation soils was observed. Discrete shear
Figure 7b. Pore Pressure Response vs. Fill Placement movement was not monitored.
Without Wicks (centreline)

4. IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL STRENGTH

CPT probing (May 2002) was undertaken 1.5 years after

completion of the majority of the fill, 9 months after
completion of the surcharge fill, at locations of previous
(1999) CPT sites. Selected comparative CPT results for
the wicks area are provided in Figure 9a. The post-
construction CPT result confirm that a significant
increase in soil strength was achieved for the wicks area.
Selected comparative CPT results are provided in Figure
9b for the area without use of wicks and significant
increase in soil strength was not observed. This lack of
soil improvement can be due to different soils of better
strength (Su @ 50-70 kPa) in comparison with the weak
soils (Su @ 20-40 kPa) at the wicks area.

Figure 7c. Pore Pressure Response vs. Fill Placement At the wicks area, the observed increase in soil shear
without Wicks (toe area) strength is in close agreement with the prediction based
on Skempton’s relationship between undrained shear
strength with respect to overburden pressure and
plasticity index.

268
 Li and Skirrow

CPT BEFORE CPT AFTER CPT BEFORE CPT AFTER CPT BEFORE CPT AFTER CPT BEFORE CPT AFTER
(1999) (2002) (1999) (2002) (1999) (2002) (1999) (2002)

FILL FILL FILL FILL

Sand
Blanket

WICKS
WICKS

WICKS
DEPTH (m)

DEPTH (m)

DEPTH (m)

DEPTH (m)
WICKS

Su (kPa) (CPT-1) Su (kPa) (CPT-2) Su (kPa) (CPT-3) Su (kPa) (CPT-4)

Figure 9. CPT Strength Improvement at Areas with Wicks

CPT BEFORE CPT AFTER

(1999) (2002)

FILL
DEPTH (m)

Su (kPa) (CPT-5)

Figure 9b. Comparative CPT Results at Area Figure 10. Plot of Su vs. Fill Height (Skempton's
without Wicks Prediction vs. CPT Data)

performed as designed and dissipated pore pressure

Generally for soft clay channel deposits with a plasticity in close agreement with the predicted drain
index (PI) of 25% , an increase of Su ranging from 25 kPa performance.
to 55 kPa can be achieved from 6 to 14m of surcharge fill. • Greater excess pore pressures were generated
below high fills, and along the centerline or greatest
Figure 10 clearly shows that the CPT test results correlate thickness of fill, relative to low fills and saddle berm
well to the predicted strength gain based on Skempton’s or toe of the fills.
equation. • Significant drainage flow was observed, requiring the
installation of geotextile blanket and riprap protection
The strength gain iranged from 20 to 60 kPa for soils with to control piping conditions. Future design should
initial shear strengths of 25 to 50 kPa. consider piping from outflow at edge of sand blanket
and provide for a toe filter protection.
• The estimated settlement (3.3 m for 11 m fill) is
5. CONCLUSIONS approximately 70 to 80% of the monitored settlement
(3.5 m for 13 m fill).
• The wick drain, lateral drain and sand blanket system • After a 1.5-year total consolidation duration, the

269
Ground and Water: Theory to Practice

beneficial effect of consolidation on shear strength successful only during the consolidation period
gain was found to be in agreement with Skempton’s (no construction activity). At resumption of fill
prediction relating to plasticity index (PI) and placement, the vertical rod of the settlement
overburden pressure (ıv). plate generally moved laterally with the fill and
• CPT is an appropriate tool for assessing was rendered defunct. For long term settlement
improvement in soil strength resulting from monitoring the use of vibrating wire SC are
consolidation. recommended.
• The use of a surcharge fill is critical at low fill areas to • Pneumatic piezometers for the project had a success
provide pre-consolidation effect and reduce future rate of about 75%. Failure of some PP’s was
settlements. attributed to excessive stretching of the cables and
• The mechanically reinforced earth slope and a high compressive pinching-off.
strength, coarse sand blanket produce a rigid soil
mass that limits lateral spreading of the bridge
headslope area. 6. ACKOWLEDGEMENTS
• For settlement monitoring,
• The use of SC was very successful and provided The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of
what were believed to be accurate and precise Chris Gräpel, Randy McGilvray and Bob Patrick of EBA,
settlement measurements. No maintenance cost and Alberta Transportation for their support throughout
were incurred, however the SC has a higher cost this project.
(approximately $5,000CAN) relative to SP.
• The use of HSI required substantial maintenance
costs due to siltation and icing of the pipe (due to 7. REFERENCE
persistent moisture in the sand blanket and river
flooding of the pipe ends).. Flushing of Skempton, A.W. and Bjerrum, L. 1957, A contribution to
accumulated silt from the HSI pipe was required. the settlement analysis of foundations on clay.
Icing up of the pipe prevented reading in winter Geotechnique, 7: 168-1
months.
• The use of low cost settlement plates was

270