The effective design, specification and construction of Special Geotechnical Measures (SGMs) is critical to the efficient operation of the National Highways Strategic Road Network (SRN). Given the required performance of the SRN in terms of resilience, reliability, redundancy and recovery it is essential that SGMs are themselves reliable in terms of performance and life; resilient to external conditions such as earthworks deterioration and extraordinary conditions (e.g. climate change). Around 100 different types of SGMs are used on the SRN and the early installations of some SGMs are approaching the end of their design life and the design, specification and application of many of these techniques is based on limited studies. The primary objective of this study is to validate, or otherwise, the predicted long-term performance of selected SGMs
This project has produced, in addition to this report, Information Notes on Gravity Block Walls, Gabion Walls, Counterfort Drains, Soil Nails and Reinforced Soil that report on investigations of these critical SGMs, and makes recommendations on their future use.
PPR1037 Forensic Examination of Critical Special Geotechnical Measures: Reinforced Soil
PPR1036 Forensic Examination of Critical Special Geotechnical Measures: Gabion Wall
PPR1035 Forensic Examination of Critical Special Geotechnical Measures: Gravity Block Wall Information Note
PPR1034 Forensic Examination of Critical Special Geotechnical Measures: Counterfort Drain
PPR1033 Forensic Examination of Critical Special Geotechnical Measures: Soil Nails
