Full-scale testing to assess climate effects on embankments

Hughes, P.N.; Glendinning, S.; Mendes, J.; Parkin, G.; Toll, D.G.; Gallipoli, D.; Miller, P.

Abstract

A unique facility for engineering and biological research has been established with the aim of improving fundamental understanding of the effects of climate change on slopes. This paper describes the building and monitoring of a full-scale embankment representative of UK infrastructure, the planting and monitoring of representative vegetation, and the construction of a system of sprinklers and covers to control climate. A summary of the results of the first experiments simulating predicted future UK climate and the response of the embankment is also presented. The information that has begun to be gathered is providing data related to the failure modes anticipated as a result of climate change and hence on the sustainability of UK infrastructure slopes.

Citation

Hughes, P., Glendinning, S., Mendes, J., Parkin, G., Toll, D., Gallipoli, D., & Miller, P. (2009). Full-scale testing to assess climate effects on embankments. Engineering Sustainability, 162(2), 67-79. https://doi.org/10.1680/ensu.2009.162.2.67

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Nov 11, 2009
• Journal: Proceedings of the ICE - Engineering Sustainability
• Print ISSN: 1478-4629
• Electronic ISSN: 1751-7680
• Publisher: ICE Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 162
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 67-79
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1680/ensu.2009.162.2.67
• Keywords: Field testing and monitoring, Research and development, Embankments.