Abstract
The paper describes the technical transition of earth structures for the super express known as the Shinkansen. To ensure the safe running of Shinkansen, the earth structures needed to be adequately designed and constructed with consideration of cost effectiveness and high stability. These earth structures include embankments for the slab tracks, reinforced retaining walls, reinforced cut slopes, aseismic abutments, soil improvement and performance-based design. New construction techniques and design methods, model tests, field construction tests and evaluations of these designs were carried out to construct the best possible earth structures. The actual applications of the earth structures listed above to secure the safe running of the Shinkansen are introduced.
