Prevention and Mitigation of Surficial Slope Failures on Fill Highway Embankment Slopes
Surficial slope failures in highway fill embankments are shallow landslides that occur within the
embankment fill, usually
affecting only a portion of the slope’s height. These failures tend to occur after a
vulnerable embankment slope is subjected
to a triggering event. An embankment’s failure susceptibility generally depends on
factors such as slope steepness, material
composition, and ability to withstand adverse drainage conditions. Examples of trigger
mechanisms include intense rainfall,
snowmelt, seismic activity, and reshaping of the embankment.
NCHRP Synthesis 617: Prevention and Mitigation of Surficial Slope Failures on Fill Highway Embankment Slopes,
from TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program,
documents state departments of transportation practices on identification,
investigation, design guidance and requirements, prevention, and mitigation of surficial slope failures.
This Summary Last Modified On: 3/8/2024