Evaluation of weathering characteristics of cut-slopes from long-term follow-up survey

Abstract

  On the cut-slope formed by cutting the ground, weathering progression can be a cause of surface collapse. For this reason, it is important to properly select the slope protection work such as vegetation work, crib work and shotcrete slope in consideration of the weathering characteristics of the ground at the construction stage, however, the reality of weathering of cut-slope is not clear. On expressways, cut-slope observation and elastic wave exploration and velocity logging have been carried out continuously on 96 cut slopes, selected nationwide, since their construction. This paper evaluates about 40 to 50 years' worth of measured data taken at 20 cut-slope sites on the Tohoku Expressway, Tomei Expressway and Chugoku Expressway to see the effects of different slope angles and geology types for stability of cut-slope.