Evidence for the weather-driven deterioration of ageing transportation earthworks in the UK

Kevin M. Briggs; Peter R. Helm; Joel A. Smethurst; Alister Smith; Ross Stirling; Aleksandra  Svalova; Yuderka Trinidad Gonzalez; Fleur A. Loveridge; Stephanie Glendinning

doi:10.1016/j.trgeo.2023.101130

Evidence for the weather-driven deterioration of ageing transportation earthworks in the UK

Kevin M. Briggs, Peter R. Helm, Joel A. Smethurst, Alister Smith, Ross Stirling, Aleksandra Svalova, Yuderka Trinidad Gonzalez, Fleur A. Loveridge, Stephanie Glendinning

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Seasonal, weather-driven pore pressure cycles alter and degrade the hydro-mechanical engineering properties of earthworks as they age. The accumulating effects of deterioration over many years can lead to the excessive deformation or failure of earthworks; requiring interventions to ensure their reliable performance. This paper reviews the evidence for the weather-driven deterioration of ageing transportation earthworks, with a focus on clay earthworks in the UK. These include earthworks of various ages (up to ~200 years old), formed from a range of clay-rich strata and at various stages of deterioration. Evidence is considered for both past behaviour and projected behaviour in response to continued ageing and a changing climate. There is clear evidence that some clay earthworks are influenced by the cumulative effect of seasonal weather cycles over many decades. Simulations show that seasonal slope ratcheting will become an increasingly dominant driver of shallow failures in high-plasticity cut slopes as they age and in response to projected climate change. The evidence can inform performance curves describing the deterioration of individual earthworks in response weather-driven ageing. This can help identify earthworks with the highest likelihood of failure and inform decisions made by earthwork asset managers.

Original language	English
Article number	101130
Journal	Transportation Geotechnics
Volume	43
Early online date	9 Oct 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2023.101130
Publication status	Published - 30 Nov 2023

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements:
This paper is an output from the UKRI-funded ACHILLES Programme (EP/R034575/1), a collaboration between Newcastle University (lead), Durham University, the University of Strathclyde, the University of Leeds, the British Geological Survey, Loughborough University, the University of Bath and the University of Southampton. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and guidance provided by the ACHILLES Expert Advisory Board (Chaired by M. Davies), the Impact Advisory Group (Chaired by C. Power & S. Abbott) and the Stakeholder User Group. Thank you to Geotechnical Observations Limited for providing inclinometer data. Briggs is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering and HS2 Ltd under the Senior Research Fellowship scheme (RCSRF1920\10\65).

Data availability:
The data in the paper is drawn from other sources. These have been cited.

Data Availability Statement

The data in the paper is drawn from other sources. These have been cited.

Funding

This paper is an output from the UKRI-funded ACHILLES Programme (EP/R034575/1), a collaboration between Newcastle University (lead), Durham University, the University of Strathclyde, the University of Leeds, the British Geological Survey, Loughborough University, the University of Bath and the University of Southampton. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and guidance provided by the ACHILLES Expert Advisory Board (Chaired by M. Davies), the Impact Advisory Group (Chaired by C. Power & S. Abbott) and the Stakeholder User Group. Thank you to Geotechnical Observations Limited for providing inclinometer data. Briggs is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering and HS2 Ltd under the Senior Research Fellowship scheme (RCSRF1920\10\65).

Funders	Funder number
ACHILLES Expert Advisory Board
C. Power & S. Abbott
HS2 Ltd	RCSRF1920\10\65
Stakeholder User Group
UKRI-funded	EP/R034575/1
University of Strathclyde
Royal Academy Of Engineering
University of Southampton
Newcastle University
University of Leeds
University of Bath
Loughborough University
Durham University
British Geological Survey

Keywords

Ageing
Climate change
Deterioration
Earthworks
Infrastructure
Transportation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Transportation
Civil and Structural Engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.trgeo.2023.101130Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Evidence for the weather-driven deterioration of ageing transportation earthworks in the UK",

abstract = "Seasonal, weather-driven pore pressure cycles alter and degrade the hydro-mechanical engineering properties of earthworks as they age. The accumulating effects of deterioration over many years can lead to the excessive deformation or failure of earthworks; requiring interventions to ensure their reliable performance. This paper reviews the evidence for the weather-driven deterioration of ageing transportation earthworks, with a focus on clay earthworks in the UK. These include earthworks of various ages (up to ~200 years old), formed from a range of clay-rich strata and at various stages of deterioration. Evidence is considered for both past behaviour and projected behaviour in response to continued ageing and a changing climate. There is clear evidence that some clay earthworks are influenced by the cumulative effect of seasonal weather cycles over many decades. Simulations show that seasonal slope ratcheting will become an increasingly dominant driver of shallow failures in high-plasticity cut slopes as they age and in response to projected climate change. The evidence can inform performance curves describing the deterioration of individual earthworks in response weather-driven ageing. This can help identify earthworks with the highest likelihood of failure and inform decisions made by earthwork asset managers.",

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author = "Briggs, {Kevin M.} and Helm, {Peter R.} and Smethurst, {Joel A.} and Alister Smith and Ross Stirling and Aleksandra Svalova and {Trinidad Gonzalez}, Yuderka and Loveridge, {Fleur A.} and Stephanie Glendinning",

note = "Acknowledgements: This paper is an output from the UKRI-funded ACHILLES Programme (EP/R034575/1), a collaboration between Newcastle University (lead), Durham University, the University of Strathclyde, the University of Leeds, the British Geological Survey, Loughborough University, the University of Bath and the University of Southampton. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and guidance provided by the ACHILLES Expert Advisory Board (Chaired by M. Davies), the Impact Advisory Group (Chaired by C. Power & S. Abbott) and the Stakeholder User Group. Thank you to Geotechnical Observations Limited for providing inclinometer data. Briggs is supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering and HS2 Ltd under the Senior Research Fellowship scheme (RCSRF1920\10\65). Data availability: The data in the paper is drawn from other sources. These have been cited.",

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AU - Stirling, Ross

AU - Svalova, Aleksandra

AU - Trinidad Gonzalez, Yuderka

AU - Loveridge, Fleur A.

AU - Glendinning, Stephanie

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N2 - Seasonal, weather-driven pore pressure cycles alter and degrade the hydro-mechanical engineering properties of earthworks as they age. The accumulating effects of deterioration over many years can lead to the excessive deformation or failure of earthworks; requiring interventions to ensure their reliable performance. This paper reviews the evidence for the weather-driven deterioration of ageing transportation earthworks, with a focus on clay earthworks in the UK. These include earthworks of various ages (up to ~200 years old), formed from a range of clay-rich strata and at various stages of deterioration. Evidence is considered for both past behaviour and projected behaviour in response to continued ageing and a changing climate. There is clear evidence that some clay earthworks are influenced by the cumulative effect of seasonal weather cycles over many decades. Simulations show that seasonal slope ratcheting will become an increasingly dominant driver of shallow failures in high-plasticity cut slopes as they age and in response to projected climate change. The evidence can inform performance curves describing the deterioration of individual earthworks in response weather-driven ageing. This can help identify earthworks with the highest likelihood of failure and inform decisions made by earthwork asset managers.

AB - Seasonal, weather-driven pore pressure cycles alter and degrade the hydro-mechanical engineering properties of earthworks as they age. The accumulating effects of deterioration over many years can lead to the excessive deformation or failure of earthworks; requiring interventions to ensure their reliable performance. This paper reviews the evidence for the weather-driven deterioration of ageing transportation earthworks, with a focus on clay earthworks in the UK. These include earthworks of various ages (up to ~200 years old), formed from a range of clay-rich strata and at various stages of deterioration. Evidence is considered for both past behaviour and projected behaviour in response to continued ageing and a changing climate. There is clear evidence that some clay earthworks are influenced by the cumulative effect of seasonal weather cycles over many decades. Simulations show that seasonal slope ratcheting will become an increasingly dominant driver of shallow failures in high-plasticity cut slopes as they age and in response to projected climate change. The evidence can inform performance curves describing the deterioration of individual earthworks in response weather-driven ageing. This can help identify earthworks with the highest likelihood of failure and inform decisions made by earthwork asset managers.

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Evidence for the weather-driven deterioration of ageing transportation earthworks in the UK