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IMPACT OF HYDROLOGICAL AND SEISMIC FACTORS ON THE STABILITY OF A HIGH-LEVEL EMBANKMENT BASED ON MARL SOIL CLASS A3 IN THE SOUTH CORRIDOR RIFAIN - HIGHWAY SECTION OF FEZ-TAZA (MOROCCO)

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 10, Issue 04, April 2019, pp. 1515–1529, Article ID: IJCIET_10_04_158
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijmet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=4
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
© IAEME Publication
Scopus Indexed
IMPACT OF HYDROLOGICAL AND SEISMIC
FACTORS ON THE STABILITY OF A HIGHLEVEL EMBANKMENT BASED ON MARL SOIL
CLASS A3 IN THE SOUTH CORRIDOR RIFAIN HIGHWAY SECTION OF FEZ-TAZA
(MOROCCO)
F. El khalfi and D. Ouarhache
GEDD Laboratory, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi
Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
A. Derradji and N. Mequedade
National Highway Company of Morocco (ADM), BP 6526, Hay Ryad, Rabat, Morocco
A. Habib
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Chouaïb Doukkali University, Route Ben
Maâchou, 24000 El Jadida, Morocco
ABSTRACT
The A2 highway connects the west of the country to its eastern part. The section
between Fez and Taza passes through the South Rifain Corridor mainly characterized
by marl formations of the Miocene. The mechanical behavior of these marls leads to
regular land instability phenomena which represent a high risk for linear features
such as roads and the A2 highway. The impact of these land instabilities is more
accentuated in the case of embankments such as kilometer point 232.900, which is the
subject of this study. This point represents a serious issue despite the different
reinforcement measures. In order to better understand the subsoil deformation at this
point, a geotechnical campaign concerning the recognition of the subsoil and the
installation of inclinometer instruments was carried out. The ground movement
monitoring showed some slight movements acting deep downstream of the
embankment.
The two-dimensional modeling of the stability status of this embankment by GEOSTUDIO geotechnical software allowed us to simulate the events and disorders that
could affect the structure. In order to understand the factors causing these ground
movements, we evaluated the stability of the embankment in its static and pseudo
static state and also during rainy and dry periods of the year. The obtained results
show a decrease in the resistance of the soil to sliding during the rainy season, or
even a possible triggering in the case of the occurrence of an earthquake, while the
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F. El khalfi, D. Ouarhache, A. Derradji, N. Mequedade, A. Habib
adoption of the recommended reinforcement structures has shown a good
maintenance of the structure in this kilometer point even in the worse conditions.
These structures have been adopted as comfort solutions by the highway manager.
Key words: Embankment, ground movement, highway, reinforcement, modeling,
Morocco.
Cite this Article: F. El khalfi, D. Ouarhache, A. Derradji, N. Mequedade, A. Habib,
Impact of Hydrological and Seismic Factors on the Stability of a High-Level
Embankment Based on Marl Soil Class A3 in the South Corridor Rifain - Highway
Section of Fez-Taza (Morocco), International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology 10(4), 2019, pp. 1515–1529.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=4
1. INTRODUCTION
The development of linear structures in steep slope terrain with the presence of marly soil
exposes them to a high chance risk of instability causing major disorders in the pavement
structures with the possibility of disruption of traffic and putting the safety of users at stake.
The South Rifain Corridor, sheltering the highway section of Fez-Taza, is widely known
by the phenomena of land movements caused mainly by the rugged morphology and the
lithological nature of the subsoil. Usually, those movements are due to natural and
anthropogenic conditions [1]–[4]. Despite significant progress and advances in this field, the
exact determination of each generating factor and their reactivations remain very limited [5],
[6]. In the South Rifain Corridor and the Rif in general, the majority of road infrastructures
experience major disturbances in the stability of the terrain. The main damages observed are
subsidence, differential settlements and landslides. The predominance of soft formations such
as marl is an important factor conditioning a disorderly evolution of the slopes [7].
During the implementation phase of the studied highway axis, three project type variants
were proposed and all of them pass through the marl formations, which made the possibility
of bypassing the corridor very difficult. The embankment realized at kilometer point (PK)
232,900 on the A2 highway has a length of about 300 linear meters with a maximum height of
16m. The first signs of land movement affecting embankment slope were manifested by
cracks in the roadway and by small scratches at its northern side. A geotechnical campaign
consisting of core drilling of a depth varying from 20m to 35m was carried out in order to
perform mechanical reconnaissance tests of the subsoil in addition to the installation of
inclinometers to monitor the movements of the ground. In an interval of forty days, the
inclinometers recorded displacements of the order of 23mm at the upper twenty meters in the
downstream part of the embankment.
The present work will attempt to evaluate the main factors causing the instability of this
embankment at its upstream and downstream parts. Moreover, the extent of this instability
will be estimated through the record of inclinometers. For this purpose, a 2D modeling of the
stability of the embankment was performed through GEO-STUDIO software by incorporating
several parameters such as the characteristics of the soil (lithology, slope ...), the water factor
(precipitation, rise of the water table, clogging of the drainage devices) and the seismic factor.
2. STUDY AREA AND PROBLEMATIC
2.1. Topographic, Geological and Climatic Settings
The study area, which is located between Ras Tabouda and Tahla, is characterized by a
sinuous and relatively rugged topography with a dominance of marly hills shaped by erosion
(Fig.1). The route of the A2 highway, with a SW-NE direction, passes through the South
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Impact of Hydrological and Seismic Factors on the Stability of a High-Level Embankment Based
on Marl Soil Class A3 in the South Corridor Rifain - Highway Section of Fez-Taza (Morocco)
Rifain Corridor, which is in the form of an elongated narrow depression following an eastwest direction with Plio-Quaternary deposits and blue marls, sometimes very sandy with
benches of detrital limestone and coarse sandstone (Fig.2). It is characterized by its location
between two different domains which are the Rif and the Middle Atlas. The Rif, which is
located in the north of the study area, is an alpine chain whose history extends from the
Triassic to the Miocene, which is characterized by thrust sheet, back-thrust structures and
alpine metamorphism. In the south, the area is limited by the tabular Middle Atlas with an
essential carbonate material of Jurassic age [8]–[11].
In climatic terms, the study area is subject to northern Mediterranean influences and those
of the Northwest Atlantic with a cold and fresh winter experiencing localized downpours up
to 257 mm/month (February 2010) and a hot and dry summer. The average annual rainfall in
the area varies from 450 to 600 mm/year [12], placing the region on the edge of area 2, which
is known by heavy rainfall between 600 and 800 mm/year, and zone 3 with annual rainfall of
400 to 600 mm/year [13].
Figure 1 (a) Region Fez-Taza. (b ) study area (Credits: Google Maps). (c) limit of the digitized
geological map (Fig.2)
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F. El khalfi, D. Ouarhache, A. Derradji, N. Mequedade, A. Habib
Figure 2 Geological map of the study area showing the major geological units exposed along the A2
highway (Extracted from the geological map of Gharb and Western Prerif).
2.2. Problematic
At PK 232,900 on the A2 highway, the embankment was built in a geologically complex
context. The investigations conducted have identified the major factors that influence the
stability of this structure such as the lithology of the subsoil, the rugged morphology (steep
slopes) (Fig.3), the water conditions and the seismic effect of the region. The alternation of
dry and wet periods contributes to the accentuation of the instability of the embankment. The
rainy period, which is known to have significant rainfall, leads to the saturation of the
superficial layers, which can be justified by the appearance of water sources and a liquefiable
place in this period. These conditions cause disorders and influence the stability of the
structure.
Figure 3 Terrain profile following section AB (fig.1.b) and embankment representation
The major factors that may be the cause of the internal and external instability of the
embankment are: The properties of the soil, slope, slope height, weather influences, the
position of the water table, and the static and dynamique overloading [14]. These factors
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Impact of Hydrological and Seismic Factors on the Stability of a High-Level Embankment Based
on Marl Soil Class A3 in the South Corridor Rifain - Highway Section of Fez-Taza (Morocco)
influence the safety factors (SF) of the landslide which are defined by [15] as the ratio of the
moment of the efforts that can be mobilized at the moment of the applied forces (driving
moment) (Fig. 4).
Figure 4 Schematic of an embankment with stability calculation parameters [15]
3. METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS
The methodology adopted in this study is based on the following points:

Choice of implementation of field surveys;

Installation and monitoring of inclinometers;

Soil sampling and laboratory tests;

Soil classification analyzes;

Representation of the 2D perspective of the embankment condition.
3.1. Choice of implementation of field surveys
In order to choose the optimal location for the core drill holes, several criteria were retained
such as the adjacent places of the hydraulic structure, the section of maximum height and the
zones which present indices of ground movements. These core drillings made it possible to
perform underground reconnaissance and install instruments to control the stability of the
embankment (fig.5).
Figure 5 Map of the studied embankment and boreholes positioning
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F. El khalfi, D. Ouarhache, A. Derradji, N. Mequedade, A. Habib
3.2. Installation and monitoring of inclinometers
The inclinometers installed on the slope in accordance with standard NF P 94-156
(inclinometer measurements) are intended to control the displacement of the soil of the
different strata traversed by the cored holes and to follow the evolution of ground movements
as well as to serve as an alarm. In order to monitor the ground displacements of the
embankment, we have used only two boreholes which can be considered more significant
according to their locations as well as the recording of major displacements: (i) borehole no.
SPC-1 (Figs.5 & 6), with 28 m of depth and a recorded displacement of about 20 mm in a
monitoring interval of 202 days; (ii) borehole no. SPC-2 (Figs.5 & 7), with 30.5 m of depth
and a recorded displacement of about 23 mm for 40 days’ interval.
Figure 6 Measure of cumulation of soil displacement by the inclinometer in the SPC-1 borehole for a
period of 202 days [16]
Figure 7 Measure of cumulation of soil displacement by the inclinometer in the SPC-2 borehole for a
period of 40 days [16]
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Impact of Hydrological and Seismic Factors on the Stability of a High-Level Embankment Based
on Marl Soil Class A3 in the South Corridor Rifain - Highway Section of Fez-Taza (Morocco)
3.3. Soil sampling and laboratory tests
Soil identification tests
The core holes (Fig. 5) were designed to characterize the subsoil at depths between 20 and
35m, which allowed us the processing of samples taken at depths 14m; 21.5m and 22m to
perform recognition tests (gradation test, cone liquidity limit and roll plasticity limit)
according to NM13.1.008, P94-052-1 and P94-051 standards, respectively. The obtained
results show that all the soils analyzed have plasticity indices greater than 25 and fine
elements (<80 μm) greater than 93% (Table 1). Based on these tests and following the [17]
classification, the studied soil can be considered as clay soil with high plasticity and water
sensitivity.
Table 1 Soil identification carried out by [16]
Sample
reference &
Depth (m)
SCP 2-R15
(14,20m14,50m)
SCP 8-R15
(21,00m21,50m)
SCP 9-R15
(21,50m22,00m)
Sampling
method
&
retention
Liquidity limit the cone
NF P94-052-1
Roll Plasticity Limit NF P94-051
Limit of
Liquidity
Index of
plasticit
limit WL
plasticity
y WP
(%)
IP (%)
(%)
Particle size analysis by dry sieving
after washing - NM 13.1.008 Dmax
mm
> 50
mm
>2
m
m
2mm
to
80μm
<80
μm
Poll &
Carrot
50
21
29
1.25
0
0
0
100
Poll &
Carrot
44
18
26
2.50
0
0
7
93
Poll &
Carrot
51
23
28
0.80
0
0
0
100
With:
WL: Liquidity limit
WP: Limit of plasticity
NF: French standard NM: Moroccan standard IP: plasticity index
Dmax: the Maximum dimension of the coarsest element
Mechanical tests of soil
The intrinsic characteristics cohesion and angle of friction (C, Φ') of Coulomb are obtained by
the triaxial test according to the standard NF P94-074. In order to be able to extract relatively
reliable mechanical parameters at ground breaking, strict monitoring of the sampling and
storage methods has been ensured. These tests were performed on so-called intact samples as
recommended by [18]. The fracture’s characteristics (internal friction angle and cohesion)
obtained in the laboratory characterize the soil as a cohesive material (Table 2).
Table 2 Mechanical characteristics of soil [16]
Triaxial test: Produced according to NF P94-074
CU + U
Sample Reference
SCP2 (14.20m-14.50m)
SCP9 (21.50m-22.00m)
Effective constraint
C '( Kpa )
Φ ' (°)
26
18 °
24
18 °
Total constraint
Ccu ( Kpa )
Φ cu (°)
38
17 °
34
17 °
With:
NF: French standard
C': drained cohesion
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CCU : total undrained
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F. El khalfi, D. Ouarhache, A. Derradji, N. Mequedade, A. Habib
cohesion
CU + U: Undrained consolidated test Φ': effective angle of
with measurement of interstitial
friction, expressed in
pressure
degrees
Φ cu : total friction angle,
expressed in degrees
Soil classification analyzes
The main parameters used for soil classification are those of nature, mechanical behavior, and
condition, according to the booklet 2 from [17].
Samples taken at varying depths are consisting mainly of marls with sieves at 80μm
greater than 90%. The parameters are considered sufficient to identify and classify soils.
Table 1 summarizes the results of the nature parameters obtained in the laboratory. According
to the GTR classification, the three samples are classified in the soil class A3, which is
characterized by a high cohesion with average water content and sticky or slippery in the wet
state [17]. These characteristics are identical to those obtained by [19] , in Oued Amlil - Taza
Corridor.
The three marly processed samples collected at depths of 14m and 21m are mostly very
plastic to plastic clay materials according to the classification map of Casagrande [18].
3.4. Representation of the 2D perspective of the embankment condition
Geometric characteristics of the embankment
Projection of high-speed roads requires respect of geometric safety parameters. The
geometrical characteristics of the backfill are:

The total length of embankment: 300 m linear meters,

Maximum height: 16 m,

Upper width: 25m (2x7m pavement, 2x2.5m stop band, and central solid ground),

Lower width: 80m base of the embankment.
Geotechnical Cross-Section
The synthesis of the nine cored pressuremeter test enabled the creation of a 3D block diagram
for the three profiles at the following kilometric points: PK: 232.820; PK: 232,860 and PK:
232,900 (Fig. 8).
Figure 8 a 3D block diagram of the studied embankment
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Impact of Hydrological and Seismic Factors on the Stability of a High-Level Embankment Based
on Marl Soil Class A3 in the South Corridor Rifain - Highway Section of Fez-Taza (Morocco)
4. RESULTS OF ANALYZES AND MODELING
The field reconnaissance surveys have shown that the backfill is generally composed of a
series of marl strata of A3 class according to the GTR classification [17]. The topographic
conditions show that the embankment fills a concave area which retains the tributaries of the
surrounding hills. The surface water collected by wastewater facilities and those of tributaries
are normally discharged through a two-opening scupper-type wastewater structure under the
embankment. When there is a malfunction of wastewater facilities (clogging), the entire
structure is exposed to the risk of instability.
Using the GEO-STUDIO modeling software and processing of landslides, we have
modeled the stability status of the embankment by three methods of computation, viz. [20]–
[22], to know and compare the safety factor (SF) limits to generate the landslide and see the
scenarios that can occur with the introduction of the parameters that influence the release of
ground movements.
4.1. Presentation of the GEO-STUDIO modeling software
The GEO-STUDIO is a software of computation, analysis and geotechnical modeling which
gathers several programs. One of which is GEO-SLOPE/W, which has been used to model the
embankment structure of the present work.
GEO-SLOPE/W uses the limit equilibrium theory to calculate the slope safety factor for
rock and soil; it can analyze simple and complex stability problems using a different methods
of calculating safety factor. It has the ability to model heterogeneous soil types, complex
lithology and various geometries with varying conditions of pore water pressure using a wide
variety of soil models. The analyzes can be performed with deterministic or probabilistic
input parameters. In addition, the calculated voltages for finite element stress analysis can be
used in limit equilibrium calculations for slope stability analysis [23].
4.2. Modeling of embankment behavior
Static stability method during the dry period
This season is characterized by a relative lack of rainfall and, consequently, a significant
drawdown of the water table is expected. During the core drilling during the months of April
and May, the piezometric level was encountered between four and six meters or even nine in
some surveys.
To model the structure in the SLOPE/W software, we have introduced the parameters that
characterize the terrain as the geometry and the properties of the different strata of the subsoil
(density γ, values of the effective stresses C 'and Φ' and the piezometric level). The strata that
make up the embankment and the base are mainly marl. The base soil is formed from top to
bottom by a layer of thin marly clay followed by yellow to green marl with a consistency of
about 10 meters, and at the base, there are grey indurated and compact marls. Generally
speaking, marl has good mechanical properties in the dry state, while, in the wet state, its
behavior changes towards a degradation of its resistance [24].
The 2D modeling of the terrain profile under the conditions mentioned above has shown
that there is a total stability of the fill-sitting during the dry period (Fig. 9).
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Figure 9 The embankment behavior during the dry period
Static and pseudo-static stability method during the rainy season
The study area experiences regular rainfall during the wet period of the year which starts from
November to April and is sometimes accompanied by violent downpours. The Zrarda village
weather station, located 17 km southeast of the zone, collected an average of 257 mm of
precipitation during the month of February 2010 as a peak between 1998 and 2015. This
amount of significant precipitation, spread over one month, deeply feeds the superficial
formations that consist mainly of altered marly soils with drying slots of the order of a few
centimeters shaped following the alternation of wet-dry seasons. When the marly formations
are saturated, they suffer from the swelling and shrinkage phenomena. For this purpose, the
marls of the embankment and the subsoil become more compressible after the alternation of
these swelling and shrinkage phenomena in comparison with the original compressibility [25].
In addition, the marly soil during the rainy season experiences very remarkable changes in the
parameters of nature (water content, density) and intrinsic mechanical characteristics
(cohesion and internal friction). It has a considerable sensitivity to the action of air and water,
causing its deterioration in case of lack of superficial coating [24].
Some boreholes realized in the bed of the tributaries have shown that there is a layer of
brown clay of thickness ranging from 1m to 3.5m which is probably formed by the
accumulation of upstream eroded sediments. The presence of a layer of marly clay confined
between the ground and the embankment in the wet state makes the soil very compressible
and develops weak resistance [26]. This increases when the clay strata shows a greater
thickness.
To evaluate the influence of the water factor on the stability of the backfill and its
foundation, we integrated the effects of rising water levels, overloads applied by heavy
vehicles in addition to horizontal and vertical seismic constraints. The seismic constraints,
according to the Moroccan Parasismic Regulation RPS2000 (version 2011), were calculated
according to Eurocode 8 part 5 [27] by the formulas:
In the horizontal direction
In the vertical direction
F H = 0.5 α W
F V = 0.5 F H
(1)
(2)
With:
F : the design value of the horizontal seismic inertia force
F : Calculation value of the vertical seismic force of inertia
W: the weight of the moving mass
α: design value of the seismic coefficient of the soil
H
V
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Impact of Hydrological and Seismic Factors on the Stability of a High-Level Embankment Based
on Marl Soil Class A3 in the South Corridor Rifain - Highway Section of Fez-Taza (Morocco)
By applying these formulas, the horizontal and vertical seismic forces obtained are 0.14
and 0.07 respectively, according to regional seismic data. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the
embankment modeling under the influence of the increase of piezometric level by using static
and pseudo-static stability methods.
Figure 10 Embankment behavior in the rainy period by static stability method
Figure 11 Embankment behavior in the rainy season by pseudo-static stability
4.3. Embankment condition modeling with stability devices
To ensure the stability of the embankment, we proposed some stability structures to protect it
from risks of instability, even in pseudo-static situations. To validate these stability features,
we examined the behavior of the embankment with the geotechnical modeling program GEOSLOPE, where we introduced a deep drainage mechanism upstream of the embankment and
reinforced concrete piles downstream to retain the stop forces applied by masses that can be
slid.
After the adoption of the embankment protection techniques, it appears that there is a
significant stability justified by the safety factors obtained during the modeling by the three
calculation methods. Even with non-convenient water and seismic conditions, the SF is
greater than 1.5, as shown in Figures 12 and 13.
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Figure 12 Embankment behavior with the stabilization structures by static stability method
Figure 13 Embankment behavior with the stabilization structures by pseudo-static stability method
Table 3 summarizes safety factors of the landslide during dry and wet periods, in static
and pseudo-static states, with and without comfort devices.
Table 3 Summary of the slip safety actors obtained
Calculation Dry period
method
at SS
Janbu
Bishop
Ordinary
1.58
1.68
1.63
The wet
period in
SS
1.06
1.20
1.11
Wet period
at SPS
0.97
1.08
1.02
Wet period
with CS to
SS
1.79
1.87
1.83
Wet period with CS to
SPS
1.53
1.66
1.57
With :
SS : Static state
CS : comfort structure
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SPS : State pseudo-static
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Impact of Hydrological and Seismic Factors on the Stability of a High-Level Embankment Based
on Marl Soil Class A3 in the South Corridor Rifain - Highway Section of Fez-Taza (Morocco)
5. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1. The reaction of embankment under the influence of destabilizing factors
The obtained results by modeling the embankment during the rainy season allowed us to
observe an increase in the driving moments, and consequently a decrease of the shear
resistance. In general, streams that are often punctual have a strong impact on the hydraulic
loads below the slid mass [28], which is manifested by a decrease in safety factors (SF) as
shown in Table 3. The SFs obtained by the static calculation method varies between 1.06 and
1.20. These values fall into the interval [1-1,2] considered by [29] as a threshold below which
landslides can appear. By keeping the same conditions analyzed by the static method and
using the seismic constraints, the SFs are less than 1, which informs us that the driving forces
are greater than the resistant ones and the release of the masses is certain. For this reason, the
adoption of comfort and protection structures is necessary. In both cases during the rainy
season, there is saturation or near saturation of marl soils with Class A3, serving as a base for
the high bank, which leads to a significant reduction of the safety factor caused by the change
in soil behavior.
5.2. The reaction of the embankment with stability structures
As first stability structures, we adopted a draining trench upstream of the embankment which
aims to collect and to drain all the runoff water and those infiltrated through the cracks
created by small tearing at the superficial level of the marly formations. This drainage system
aims to ensure the proper evacuation of water likely to be stagnated near the embankment in
case of dysfunction of wastewater facilities (water descent, concrete ditches, etc.) and to
transport it to the outflow by avoiding any source of infiltration inside the strata.
A second structure was adopted downstream of the so-called rigid embankment
represented by a fence of reinforced concrete piles with a spacing of 2.5m anchored in the
compact gray marl formation at a depth ≥ 24m to retain and confine the forces generated by
the start of masses that can be slid (Fig. 13) and transmit them in depth to the resistant layer.
These two adopted stability structures have played directly on the safety factors when the
embankment slips from critical SF of less than 1 (Fig. 10) to SF greater than 1.5 (Fig. 11 and
12), which is considered largely safe to any possibility of movement even under the effect of
the earthquake.
Embankment modeling using the GEO-SLOPE software allowed us to visualize the slope
manifestations after the integration of the seismic parameters, the rise of the piezometric level
and the overloads applied by heavy vehicle traffic. Figures 11 and 12 show that the
embankment is stable with an SF greater than 1.5 in both static and pseudo-static conditions.
6. CONCLUSIONS
The instability of the embankment often occurs because of the diversity of the driving factors
that generate the ground movements (marly nature of the subsoil and embankment, water
conditions, topography, seismic effect ...). The results obtained from the identification and
mechanical soil tests characterize the soil as a fine clay material sensitive to climatic variation
and have a cohesive aspect with high plasticity “Class A3”. During the evaluation of the
results obtained by modeling, we noticed that during the rainy season, the water conditions
and the seismic effect of the region represent the main causes of the landslide. With the
variation of the hydric regime, the marl coming from the embankment or the subsoil
undergoes a shrinkage-swelling phenomenon causing, therefore, the decrease of the safety
factors and consequently exposes the structure to a high risk of instability. Another factor that
can be at the origin of several disorders consists in the existence of clays on the surface of the
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F. El khalfi, D. Ouarhache, A. Derradji, N. Mequedade, A. Habib
underlying soil foundations, with thickness ranging between 1m to 3.5m which, when
saturated, can play the role of soap strata favorable to sliding.
Thus, considering the risks to which users may be exposed, and the high cost of site
maintenance work, we recommend two comfort devices to mitigate the impact of these
phenomena. The first consists of the realization of a highly effective drainage mechanism on
the upside of the embankment, with draining trench type, to prevent the infiltration of any
source of water inside. The second comprises a contiguous jointed piles barrier anchored in
the compact gray marl layer as stopping force. The integration of these two structures into the
modeling program has allowed us to obtain safety factors higher than 1.5, a value recognized
as a safety threshold for structures. These structures have been adopted as comfort solutions
by the highway manager.
REFERENCES
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