How is the thickness of soil-cement for upstream slope protection of embankments determined?
Typical thickness design of soil-cement slope protection depends on the severity of the intended application and on the method of construction. Soil-cement can be placed for slope protection in horizontal lifts adjacent to the slope (stair-step) or parallel to the slope (plating). PCA guidelines for the stair-step and plating methods of construction are summarized below. Stair-Step Construction Method Soil-cement for embankment slopes exposed to moderate-to-severe wave action or high velocity lateral flows should be constructed using stair-step method of construction. To determine the minimum thickness required, designers should consider the density of the proposed soil-cement and all possible loading conditions, including but not limited to uplift due to wave action and hydrostatic pressures that may develop during rapid drawdown. The thickness would then be determined to insure that the soil-cement weight is heavy enough to resist all upward forces. In determining the soil-cement thi
