Design of Horizontal Drains For Soil Slopes-Kenny Et Al 1977

13366 NOVEMBER 1977 GT11
JOURNAL OF THE
G EOTECH N ICAL
ENGINEERING DIVISION
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DESIGN oF HoRIZONTAL DRAINS

FOR SoiL SLoPEs
By T. Cameron Kenney, 1 M. ASCE, Mladin Pazin/ and Wang S. Choi 3
INTRODUCTION
This paper presents procedures for making preliminary designs of horizontal

drains in soil slopes. It addresses the general question, "In order to achieve
a certain increase of stability of a particular slope, approximately what drain
length and drain spacing should be used ?"
A number of people, including Stanton (9) and Smith and Stafford (8), have
reported the use of horizontal drains to improve the stability of slopes in relatively
pervious soils and in water-bearing rocks. The method entails the installation
of horizontal, perforated drainage pipes to reduce ground-water pressures, thereby
increasing the shear strength of the soil or rock and improving the stability
of the slope. Despite its successful use for several decades, the writers were
surprised not to find in geotechnical literature any design guides concerning
the choice of drain length and drain spacing for systems of horizontal drains,
and it was to satisfy this need that the study , described in this paper, was
made. It was also surprising to find that very little use had been made of
horizontal drains to stabilize clay slopes, and comments concerning such usage
will be made in the section entitled Use of Design Charts .
The study consisted of three parts. In the first part, determination was made
of the amounts that ground-water pressures would be reduced by drains of
different lengths and different spacings for two different slope conditions. This
information was obtained from laboratory seepage models. The second part
consisted of determining, on the basis of stability calculations, the amount that
slope stability would be improved as the result of these specific reductions
of ground-water pressure. In the third part, the results of the stability calculations
Note.- Discussion open until April I, 1978 . To extend the closing date one month,
a written request must be filed with the Editor of Technical Publications, ASCE . This
paper is part of the copyrighted Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division,
Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers , Vol. 103, No. GTll , November,
1977. Manuscript was submitted for review for possible publication on June 30, 1976.
1 Prof. , Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
2 Engr., Peto MacCallum Ltd., Consulting Engrs ., Toronto, Canada.
3 Engr., Morton Dodds and Partners, Consulting Engrs. , Toronto, Canada .
1311
Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

were synthesized in the form of design charts. These charts deal with the case
of installing drains for the purpose of causing general improvement of the stability
of a wide slope (referred to as general stabilization), and with the case of
causing local stabilization of a portion of a slope (referred to as local stabilization).
Through the use of these charts, selection can be made of length, spacing,
and number of horizontal drains to obtain approximately the desired improvement

of slope stability.
The investigation was based on a very simple set of soi l and slope conditions,
V>
"'(.)
.c: TAIL POND
c:
z 8
0
~
;;>
0 0
w
_.J -8 -8
w
69 22
DISTANCE X, inches
MODEL OF SLOPE CONDITION A
~
.c:
(.)
.!'0 r : HEADPOND
z
"j '~~~
0
~
;;>
w
_.J 0 · I I
\J.J
67 0
DISTANCE X, inches
MODEL OF SLOPE CONDITION B
FIG . 1.-Conditions of Geometry and Ground-Water Pressure Used for Seepage Model
Tests (1 in . = 25 .4 mm)
PHREATIC SURFACE
640
..,
.2'_ WABI RIVER
-600 610
z --o!=c------:::::--~ I
0
I ',
~ {sgo -----_600
~ 560
..J
w ~~UIPOTENTIAL LINE J __ _
FIG. 2.-Equipotential Lines in Clay Slope Determined from Field Measurement of

Piezometric Elevations (1 ft = 0.305 m)
in comparison with the broad range of conditions and complexities found in

engineering practice. This approach was warranted in order to satisfy, even
crudely, the need for design guides. More complex investigations might be justified
in the future on the basis of field studies of full-scale installations , but such
information has not yet been reported in literature, and the writers have not
had the opportunity to engage in this type of study . It is hoped that readers
of this journal who possess field information will submit discussions of this
paper.

GT11 HORIZONTAL DRAINS 1313
CHOICE OF CoNDITIONS
The approach taken was to choose a small number of different conditions

that were believed to encompass the conditions of a large number of slopes.
The conditions chosen did not include flat slopes, for which horizontal drains
are not particularly well suited, nor did they include very steep slopes that
pose unique problems and on which studies have been made by Choi (4) and
Tong and Maher (10).
The chosen conditions of geometry are shown in Fig. 1. The slope inclination
of m = 3 was used for the entire investigation. Two slope conditions were
chosen. Slope condition A is representative of those slopes in which the soil
extends to a depth below the toe of the slope such that the location of its
lower boundary does not influence the stability of the slope. Slope condition
B represents those soil slopes that directly overlie an impervious and strong
material.
The soil was assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic.
The choice of initial ground-water conditions was based on a number of
compromises . The type of ground-water condition most likely to occur in nature
is shown in Fig. 2. The positions of the equipotential lines were determined
from piezometer measurements (5), and the direction of ground-water flow would
be approximately perpendicular to the equipotentiallines . The geometry of the
flow net, including the position of the phreatic surface, is partly controlled
by the rates of water infiltration from the ground surface in relation to the
permeability of the saturated soil. The rates of infiltration will vary depending
on climatic conditions and this will also cause ground-water seepage to be in
a state of unsteady flow .
In view of such complexities, the following approach was taken. It was decided
to use experimental seepage models to determine the changes of ground-water
pressure caused by installing horizontal drains, rather than to use analytical
techniques to calculate these changes . The chief reason for this decision was
to avoid the difficulties of analytically determining the positions of phreatic
surfaces for the various drain configurations that were to be studied. The second
decision was to investigate only steady-state seepage conditions. The third decision
was to use the seepage conditions shown in Fig. I. Under these conditions
water seepage occurred essentially in the horizontal direction, and the resulting
equipotential lines were nearly vertical. Comparing this pattern of equipotential
lines to the pattern in Fig. 2, it can be concluded that the seepage models
would yield larger values of ground~water pressure below the crest of the slope
than would most likely be found in nature. Ground-water pressures at the toes
of the slopes would be similar in both cases. It was therefore concluded that
the use of these model conditions would lead to small overestimates of ground-
water pressures found in practice .
SEEPAGE MoDEL TEsts
Seepage models were constructed in a metal tank 83 in. (2, 100 mm) long
and 63 in. (1 ,600 mm) wide. The models had dimensions equal to those shown
in Fig. I. A submersible pump, working from a reservoir tank, pumped water
to the headpond, and overflow pipes at the upstream and downstream ends

of the tank maintained constant water levels. The material used to construct
the models was glass beads, of which less than 30% was retained on the No.
100 sieve and more than 70% was retained on the No. 200 sieve. The fine-grained
material was chosen because of its uniformity, and also to ensure that only
a small quantity of seepage flowed through the soil such that this seepage quantity
TABLE 1.-Ground-Water Conditions and Systems of Horizontal Drains Investigated

by Means of Model Tests
Soil condition A Soil condition 8

System or condition
(2) (3)
( 1)
(a) Drain System
Drain length, L , in inches 16, 24, 32, 39 18, 27, 35,
Drain spacing, S, in inches 8, 16, 32, 63, 126 16, 32, 63, 126
( b) Ground-Water Conditions for No Drains (See Fig. 3)
H , in inches 7.3 9.7 10.2 13.7
H", in inches 4 .6 5.4 6.6 7.9
Hu / H 0 .63 0.56 0.65 0.58
Note: 1 in. = 25.4 mm.
t5
g
UJ
d
10
-8
l---z
r
.
H~~ :~~~~.
H • 9 .71n.
~.
H•7.3 io.
- -~~~~,=-- --""----
0
H~/uH• .:~-
.
_.-- WATER PRESSURES AT
EL EV. · 0, EXPRESSED
AS PIEZOMETRIC ELEVATIONS
40 30 20 ID 0
DISTANCE X , inches
(cl MEASUREMENTS FROM MODEL OF SLOPE CONDITION A
-------
H r l3.6 in.
WATER PRESSURES AT
ELEV. • 0 , EXPRESSED
AS PIEZOMETRIC ELEVATIONS
DISTA NCE X, inches
(bl MEASUREMENTS FROM MODEL OF SLOPE CONDITION B
FIG. 3.-Measured Ground-Water Pressure Conditions in Models for Condition of

No Drains (1 in. = 25.4 mm)
did not exceed the free-flow capacity of the model drains. The slopes were
protected against erosion by a layer of finely-woven nylon cloth weighted down
by two layers of small ceramic wall tiles . Pore-water pressures within the models
were measured as piezometric elevations by means of small-diameter piezometer
probes inserted into the models on a grid spacing of 8 in. x 8 in. (200 mm

x 200 mm), and measurements were made at 4-in. (100-mm) vertical intervals.
Some results of seepage model tests for the condition of "no drains" are given
in Fig. 3. The results are presented as piezometric elevations that were measured
at various points at the level of the toes of the slopes.
Model drains were constructed of No. 200 sieve stainless steel mesh by making
a double wrapping around a 0.2-in. (5-mm) diam rod and spot-soldering the
outer seam. They were inserted into the models through holes in the ends of
the metal tank . Brass rods were buried over the full length of each model
in the locations of the drains and these were used to pull or push the drains
into their correct positions . The procedure followed was to choose a particular
LEGEND
- - - MEASURED AT ELEV. • 4in.
-MEASURED AT ELEV • Oin.
WIDTH DISTANCE, inches
( a) MEASUREMENTS OF PIEZOMETRIC ELEVATION
1 12 f ~VALUES OF PIEZOMETRIC
.~ 8 9.4 ao 6.6 ~.o~ 2 .4 ELEVATION
~ ~ ~4 a:o ~6 ~.0 :;3 Z:z >s:: DRAIN

w
60 40 20 0
DI STANCE X , inches
(b) MAXIMUM AVERAGE VALUES OF PIEZOMETRIC ELEVATION

FOR SLOPE WIDTH EQUAL TO 41 INCHES
FIG. 4.-Typical Results of Piezometric Elevations Obtained from Seepage Model

Tests for Slope Condition B. with L = 27 in. and S = 32 in. (1 in. = 25.4 mm)
value of drain length and to install a single drain along one side of the model,
giving an equivalent drain spacing equal to twice the width of the tank; i.e.,
S = 126 in. (3,200 mm) . After steady-state seepage conditions had been achieved ,
values of piezometric elevation were measured within the model. Then, a second
drain was installed along the other side of the model, corresponding to drain
spacing S = 63 in. (I ,600 mm), and piezometric elevations were again measured.
Thereafter, the spacing between drains was successively reduced by one-half
by installing drains midway between existing drai ns , each time measuring the
new piezometric elevations. This whole procedure was repeated for each new
value of drain length. Values of drain spacing and drain length that were

investigated by means of models are listed in Table 1. Results of a typical
test are presented in Fig. 4(a) for the model of slope condition , B, in which
the drain length was L = 27 in. (690 mm) and the drain spacing was S =
32 in. (810 mm) .
Details concerning the test procedures and test results have been presented
by Pazin (7), Choi (3) , and Kenney (6) .
STABILITY CALCULATIONS
The safety factor against shear failure of a slope was calculated by ~e~ns
of the computer program ICES-LEAS E-I, developed by Bailey and ChnstJan
(!). It is based on the method presented by Bishop (2) that 1s applicable to
circular-arc failure surfaces.
Shear strength parameters of the soil were chosen such that the results of
"~Owz> 1
g:g
wt;r
N...J AVERAGE
L!! w VALUE
a.
----- - ~
(a l CA SE OF GENERAL STABILIZATION OF SLOPE WIDTHS> 4H 0
DETERMINATION OF MAXIMUM AVERAGE PIEZOMETRIC
ELEVATIONS
~z~
4H
g:Q
w~
" "'
Ow
N...J
Ww
iL
- ---- - -
(b) CASE OF LOCAL STABILIZATION OF SLOPE WIDTHS ~ 4H '
DET ERMINATION OF MINIMUM AVERAGE PIEZOMETRIC
ELE VATI ONS
FIG. 5.-Procedure for Determining Average Values of Piezometric Elevation to Be

Used in Stability Calculations
the stability calculations would be independent of the magnitude of slope height,

and that changes of safety factor would be dependent only on changes of
ground-wate r pressure. This was accomplishe d by choosing the effective cohesion
0, corre sponding to cohesionless soils and normally-to-lightly overconsolid ated
clay soils. The effective angle of shear resistance was chosen as 24°, and although
the magnitude of this angle influenced the calculated value of safety factor,
it did not influence the relative change of safety factor used in the design
charts presented later herein.
For each of slope conditions A and B, two conditions of initial ground-wate r
pressure (i .e. , before drains are installed) were used. Initial ground-wate r pressure
conditions were characterized by the parameter H j H in which H = the slope
height. The term H" (see Fig. 3) is a measure of the water pressure at the
point located at the level of the toe of the slope and directly below the crest
line of the slope , and is equal to the pressure head at that point. The chosen

values of H j H are indicated in Fig. 3 and listed in Table 1. The specific
gravity of the soil was assumed to be 1.76.
Except for the cases of no drains, piezometric elevations within the slope
varied along the width of the slope, being maximum midway between drains
and minimum in the vertical plane of each drain [Fig. 4(a)]. In order to use
such information in an equivalent two-dimensional stability analysis, it was

necessary to convert variable piezometric elevations to average values by the
procedures described in the following paragraph.
First, it was necessary to distinguish between two different uses of horizontal
drains in slopes , and these will be referred to as general stabilization and local
stabilization. General stabilization refers to long widths of slope in which
horizontal drains are installed to improve the stability of the entire width of
slope. Local stabilization refers to a slope in which only a few drains are installed
to obtain maximum improvement of the stability of a small portion of the slope .
To determine the average piezometric elevation for a particular point in the
cross section of the slope, it was necessary to choose a minimum width of
slope over which failure could occur. Arbitrarily, this minimum width was chosen
to be four times the slope height , 4H, and the failure surface was assumed
to be circular-cylindrical in shape with vertical sides . Thus, in the case of general
stabilization , the values of piezometric elevation used in stability calculations
were those measured in the model tests and averaged over slope widths of
4H in such a way as to produce maximum average values. The procedure is
shown in Fig. 5(a). In Fig. 4(b), for the case of general stabilization , an example
is given of calculated maximum average piezometric elevations that are based
on the test results presented in Fig. 4(a) and that were calculated for a slope
width of 4H = 41 in. (1 ,000 mm).
In the case of local stabili zation , results were used from model tests in which
I, 2, and 3 drains had been installed, and in each case the measured piezometric
elevations were averaged over slope widths equal to 4H to obtain minimum
average values . The procedure is shown in Fig. S(b) .
ResULTS oF ANALYSES
Slope Condition A: General Stabilization of Slope Widths > 4H.-The results

of stability calculations are presented in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) for two conditions
of initial ground,water pressure corresponding to H j H = 0.56 and 0 .63 . Each
data point is related to a specific drainage system having drains of length L
and spacing S. For the purpose of synthesizing the data these dimensions were
normalized by dividing by H", which is a measure of the ground-water pressure
conditions in the slopes . The safety factor of the slope for the initial condition
of ground-water pressures (i.e. , no drains) is denoted by P0 ; the safety factor
of the slope after a specific drainage system has been installed is denoted by
P; and the increase of safety factor due to drainage is P - P 0 = 6-P, giving
a relative increase of safety factor 6-PI P o . For each different value of drain
length, L / H,, a curve was obtained relating improvement in stability 6-P/ P 0
and drain spacing S/ H", and these curves are drawn as full lines in Figs.
6(a) and 6(b) . The condition S / H" = 0 represents a continuous blanket drain,
and was used to extend the results of the analyses to smaller values of S
than were investigated by means of model tests. Water pressures for the cases

of blanket drains of various lengths were obtained from Hele-Shaw models

(seepage between two closely-spaced parallel plates) having the dimensions shown
in Fig. I.
Each broken line in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) represents a family of drainage systems
having the same value of drain length per unit width of slope, denoted by
4 6 8
DRAIN SPACI NG S / Hu
(a) RESULTS FOR INITIAL GROUND-WATER CONDITION Hu/ H "056
4
DRAIN SPACING S / Hu
(b) RESULTS FOR INITIAL GROUND-WATER CONDITION Hu / H"0.63
4 10 12
DRAIN SPACING S/ Hu
(cl COMPOSITE OF DIAGRAMS (a) 8 (b), APPLICABL E TO

INITIAL VALUES OF Hu/ H " 0.5 TO 0.7
FIG. 6.-Results of Stability Calculations for Slope Condition A and Case of General
Stabilization of Slope Widths > 4H
I, that is equal to the total length of drain divided by the total width of slope.
The positions of these curves were determined by using the relationship
L
I.L H
l=- = - -'' .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ( 1)
};S S
Hu
in which values of L/ Hu are represented by curves in the diagra ms and values
of S/ H" form the horizontal axes of the diagrams.
Comparison between the relationships presented in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) indicates
that they are nearly identical , despite the fact that they correspond to two
different conditions of initial ground-water pressure, as expressed by the ratio
Hj H . The results have been combined and are presented in a general form

in Fig. 6(c) , and the assumption has been made that these relationships are
applicable to the extended range of initial ground-water pre ssures of H j H
= 0.5-0.7.
Fig. 6( c) can be used as a design chart for slopes having inclinations of
approx m = 3 and for which the value of Hu is known . Consider the example
in which it is desired to improve the stability of a slope by the a mount of
t:.FI F 0 = 0.25 . In Fig. 6(c) this value is a horizontal line cutting acros s l curves
and Ll Hu curves . Each l curve has a point of maximum tlFI F 0 , indicating
maximum stabilizing benefit that can be realized from this particular value of
l. If it were assumed that the cost of a drainage system was directly proportional
to the value of l, the top point of each of these curves would represent optimum
VALUES OF
L/Hu
NUMBER OF DRAINS
(al RESULTS FOR INITIAL GROUND-WATER CONDITION H,,H •0.56
VALUES OF
lE 0.2 L/Hu
'
u.
<l
oL---~ _____ L_ __ _J __ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___
0
NUMBER OF DRAINS
(b) RESULTS FOR INITIAL GROUND-WATER CONDITION H0 /H • 063
[ S /Hu~~~ ~~ VALUES OF
0.2 ~5 L/Hu
~
<J
~ LINE_:DRAIN
OF EQUAL TOTAL
LENGTH
~L_--~~-----L----~--------
NUMBER OF DRAINS
a
(c) COMPOSITE OF DIAGRAMS (a) (b), APPLICABLE TO
INITIAL VALUES OF Hu / H • 0.5 TO 0.7.
FIG. 7.-Results of Stability Calculations for Slope Condition A and Case of Local
Stabilization of Slope Widths = 4H
design . For the example of tlFI F 0 = 0.25, the minimum value of l that will
be effective is l = 1.7, and because the l curve is flat-topped there is a range
of values of S I H" and Ll H" that could be chosen, as indicated by the marked
area in Fig. 6(c). The actual values of spacing Sand length L are then obtained
by multiplying by the known value of H".
In many cases the value of H" would only be approximately known, and
therefore a simpler design chart than Fig. 6(c) is warranted. The factors S I H
and L I H" can be expressed approximately in terms of S I H and L I H by using
the expression H" = 0.6 H. This leads to a less accurate design chart, but
one that is more easily used in practice. This design chart is given in Fig.
8(a) .
Soil Condition A: Local Stabilization of Slope Widths = 4H.- The re sults of

the stability calculations are presented in Figs. 7(a) and 7(b) for two condi tions
of initial ground-water pressure, corresponding to H j H = 0.56 and 0.63. In
the stability calculations, use was made of gro und-water pressures that resulted
from the installation of one, two, and three drains of vari ous lengths, and of
several values of drain spacing. It was found that the most effective drain
spacings were equal to SI H, = 3, and these are the data points in Figs . 7(a)
and 7(b). The relationships in Figs. 7(a) and 7(b) are very similar, and the
combined result is presented in Fig. 7(c) . It is assumed that Fig. 7(c) is valid
over the extended range of Hj H = 0.5-0. 7.
PIEZOMETER PIPE
MAXIMUM EXPECTED
~-
· • / SUP SURFACE 3
H
H
-
DRAI N
--.;::-- -
DRAIN
,.
... 0.4
~lf
~ '
"""
t<!
" "'>-
0.2
wo
~"
~Lt
~ 0
0
0 o~-~-~-~-~4 -~-~ DR AIN SPACI NG S/H
DRAIN SPACING S/H (a) GENERAL STABILIZATION OF SLOPE WIDTHS > 4H
(a) GE NERAL STABILlZ ATIO N OF SLOPE WIDTH S > 4 H
04,---,--..,--~,------,
! s ; H~z l
~ ~4 l VALUES OF
~2 f L/H
~ESDFEQUAL
TOTAL DRAIN LENGTH
~~-~.--~2--~----~
NU MBER OF OOAINS NUMBER OF DRAI NS
(bl LOC AL STABILtZATIO N OF SLOPE WIDTHS%1t4H lbl LOCAL STABILIZATION OF SLOPE WIClTH S ~4H
FIG . B.-Design Charts for Horizontal FIG. 9.-Design Charts for Horizontal
Drains in Case of Slope Condition A And Drains in Case of Slope Condition B and
Ground-Water Conditions Corre- Ground-Water Conditions Corre-
sponding to H j H = 0.5-0.7 sponding to H,./ H = 0.5-0.7
The broken-line curves in Fig. 7(c) [(and Figs. 8(b) and 9(b)] each represents
a common total length of drain, i.e., number of drains multiplied by drain length .
These curves indicate decreases of t:.F I F0 for increases of number of drains,
wh ich means that by using a certain value of total drain length , more improvement
of slope stability can be obtained from a number of long drains than from
a larger number of shorter drains.
The relationships in Fig. 7( c) are in terms of H". Following the rationale
used in the previous section, and noting that t:.F I Fo was found not to be sensitive
to small changes of drain spacing and drain length, the relationships in Fig.
7( c) were expressed in terms of SI H and L I H by means of the expression
H = 0.6 H , and the results are presented in Fig . 8(b).
"
Slope Condition B.-The design charts for this slope condition for the cases
of general stabilization and local stabilization are presented in Figs. 9(a) and
9(b) respectively. They were developed using the same procedures described
in the two previous sections.
UsE OF DESIGN CHARTs
1. The design charts were developed from investigations in which it was

assumed that the soil was homogeneous and the seepage was in steady state.
Under these conditions the ground-water pressures are not dependent upon
the magnitude of the coefficient of permeability of the soil and, therefore,
the design charts may be used for pervious soils as well as clay soils. A qualification
is that the drains have been assumed to be free flowing; i.e. , the water pressure
in a drain is approximately atmospheric pressure.
2. The slopes that were studied had inclinations of m= 3. Based on additional
calculations, it was found that the results can be used for slopes having inclinations
of m = 2.5-3.5. For steeper inclinations the design charts underestimate the
stabilizing influence of horizontal drains, and for flatter inclinations they overesti-
mate the stabilizing influence.
3. The initial ground-water pressure condition within a slope (i.e., for no
drains) has been characterized by the ratio H j H (see Fig. 3). Within the range
of H j H = 0.57 and 0.64 it was found that improvement of slope stability,
expressed by D.F I F o, was very little influenced by ground-water pressure
conditions. On the basis of this finding, the design charts are expected to give
acceptable results for the range of H j H = 0.5-0.7; the design charts will
underestimate slightly the stabilizing influence of drains for the conditions Hj H
= 0. 7, and will overestimate slightly the stabilizing influence of drains for H j H
= 0.5.
4. Slope height has been defined as the height from the toe of the slope
to the crest line. In some cases (e.g., long and non uniform slopes) the area
of instability , or potential instability, might extend only over a portion of the
total slope height. In such cases, the equivalent height of the slope to be used
in the design charts would be the vertical distance from the base to the top
of the unstable or potentially unstable area (Figs. 8 and 9), and the value of
H" would be determined in relation to this measure of H.
5. To stabilize slope widths greater than 4H, use is made of the design charts
for general stabilization given in Figs. 8(a) and 9(a) . Based on a prior choice
of the desired value of D.F I F o, determine from the chart the minimum required
value of I (the length of drain per unit width of slope), and the optimum values
of S I Hand L I H.
An example is given in Fig. 8(a) for the case of the desired value of stability
improvement being D.FI F 0 = 0.25. Interpolating between the /-curves, the
minimum required value is I = 1.8 , and the optimum values of S I Hand L l H
are 2.5 and 4.5, respectively. If, for some reason such as economy, it were
advantageous to use shorter drains, the same value of D.F I F 0 could be obtained
by using L l H = 3 and SI H = 1.5.
6. To stabilize slope widths equal to approx 4H, use is made of the design
charts for local stabilization given in Figs. 8(b) and 9(b), following the procedure
described in item 5.

7. Several rule-of-thu mb guidelines emerge from the design charts: (a) For
slope condition A, an improveme nt of slope stability of !::.F/ F = 0.25 can
0
be realized by installing horizontal drains having lengths equal to 3H (i.e . , drains
extending from the toe of the slope to the crest line), and having a spacing
equal to 2H; and (b) for slope condition B, an improveme nt of slope stability
of t:.F/ F 0 = 0.25 can be realized by installing horizontal drains having le~gths

equal to 1.5 H (i.e., drains extending half way from the toe to the crest !me),
and having a spacing equal to 1.5 H.
CoNcLUSION S
The design charts that have been presented are suggested guidelines . T?_ey
are based on a limited number of seepage-m odel tests, approxima te stab1hty
calculation s , and approxima te methods of synthesis. The _charts have not been
calibrated against field experience , and this type of informatiO n would b e welcome
as discussion s on this paper.
AcKNOWLEDG MENTS
This investigati on was conducted in the Departmen t of Civil E ngineering ,

University of Toronto, and the assistance of Colin Gagg is deeply appreciate d.
Financial support was received from the National Research Council of Canada
through Grant No. A4543 awarded to the senior writer.
APPENDIX f.-REFERENC ES
1. Bailey, W. A., and Chri stian, J. T. , " ICES-LEAS E-I, A Problem Orientated Language
for Slope Stability Analysis, User's Manual ," MIT Soil M echa nics Publication No.
235, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Mass. , 1969.
2. Bishop, A. W., "The Use of the Slip Circle in the Stability Anal ysis of Slopes,"
Geotechniqu e, London, England, Vol. 5, No. ! , !955, pp. 7-17.
3. Choi , W. S., "Reduction of Pore-Water Pressures in Slopes by Horizontal Drains
and its Influence on Stability," thesis presented to the University of Toronto, at
Toronto , Canada, in 1975 , in partial fulfillment of the requirement s for the degree
of Bachelor of Applied Science.
4. Choi, Y. L., "Design of Horizontal Drains," Journal of the Engineering Society of
Hong K ong , Dec., 1974, pp. 37-49.
5. Finch, G. R., "A Study of the Seepage Patterns in a Natural Clay Slope with Respect
to Slope Stability," thesis presented to the University of Toronto, at Toronto , Canada,
in 1976, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of
Applied Science.
6. Kenney , T. C., "Results of Seepage Model Tests and Calculations Concerning
Horizontal Drains in Slopes," Department of Civil Engineering R esearch Publication
77-05, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 1977.
7. Pazin, M., " Reduction of Pore-Water Pressures in Slopes by Horizontal Drains and
its Influence on Stability," thesis presented to the University of Toronto, at Toronto,
Canada, m 1974, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master
of Applied Science.
8. Smith, T. W., and Stafford , G. V. , "Horizontal Drains on California Highways ,"
Journal of the Soil M echanics and Foundations Division, ASCE, Vol. 83, No . SM3,
Proc. Paper \3QQ, July, \957, pp. \300-l- \300-26.
9. Stanton, T. E., "Californ ia Experience in Stabilizing Earth Slopes Through the
Installation of Horizontal Drains by the Hydrauger Method ," Proceedings, 2nd
International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Rotterdam,

the Netherlands, Vol. 3, 1948, pp . 256-260.

10. Tong, P. Y. L. , and Maher, R. 0. , "Horizontal Drains as a Slope Stabilizing Measure,"
Journal of the Engineering Society of Hong Kong, Feb. 1975, pp. 15-27.
APPENDIX !I.-NOTATION
The following symbols are used in this paper:
F safety factor against slope failure for slope containing drains ;

Fo safety factor against slope failure for condition of no drains;
H slope height or equivalent slope height;
Hu pressure head measured at point located directly below crest line of
slope at level of toe of slope (see Fig. 3);
L length of individual drain;
I drain length per unit width of slope;
m slope inclination expressed as contangent of angle-of-inclination;
S spacing of drains (distance between adjacent drains);
X horizontal distance measured from one end of model (see Fig. 1); and
t.F increase of safety factor against slope failure due to installation of
drains .

Design of Horizontal Drains For Soil Slopes-Kenny Et Al 1977

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Design of Horizontal Drains For Soil Slopes-Kenny Et Al 1977

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13366 NOVEMBER 1977 GT11

DESIGN oF HoRIZONTAL DRAINS

This paper presents procedures for making preliminary designs of horizontal

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

and number of horizontal drains to obtain approximately the desired improvement

MODEL OF SLOPE CONDITION B

FIG. 2.-Equipotential Lines in Clay Slope Determined from Field Measurement of

in comparison with the broad range of conditions and complexities found in

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

The approach taken was to choose a small number of different conditions

SEEPAGE MoDEL TEsts

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

TABLE 1.-Ground-Water Conditions and Systems of Horizontal Drains Investigated

Soil condition A Soil condition 8

Note: 1 in. = 25.4 mm.

(cl MEASUREMENTS FROM MODEL OF SLOPE CONDITION A

DISTA NCE X, inches

(bl MEASUREMENTS FROM MODEL OF SLOPE CONDITION B

FIG. 3.-Measured Ground-Water Pressure Conditions in Models for Condition of

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

WIDTH DISTANCE, inches

( a) MEASUREMENTS OF PIEZOMETRIC ELEVATION

~ ~ ~4 a:o ~6 ~.0 :;3 Z:z >s:: DRAIN

(b) MAXIMUM AVERAGE VALUES OF PIEZOMETRIC ELEVATION

FIG. 4.-Typical Results of Piezometric Elevations Obtained from Seepage Model

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

by Pazin (7), Choi (3) , and Kenney (6) .

FIG. 5.-Procedure for Determining Average Values of Piezometric Elevation to Be

the stability calculations would be independent of the magnitude of slope height,

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

such information in an equivalent two-dimensional stability analysis, it was

Slope Condition A: General Stabilization of Slope Widths > 4H.-The results

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

of blanket drains of various lengths were obtained from Hele-Shaw models

(a) RESULTS FOR INITIAL GROUND-WATER CONDITION Hu/ H "056

(b) RESULTS FOR INITIAL GROUND-WATER CONDITION Hu / H"0.63

(cl COMPOSITE OF DIAGRAMS (a) 8 (b), APPLICABL E TO

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

(al RESULTS FOR INITIAL GROUND-WATER CONDITION H,,H •0.56

(b) RESULTS FOR INITIAL GROUND-WATER CONDITION H0 /H • 063

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

DRAIN SPACING S/H (a) GENERAL STABILIZATION OF SLOPE WIDTHS > 4H

(a) GE NERAL STABILlZ ATIO N OF SLOPE WIDTH S > 4 H

UsE OF DESIGN CHARTs

1. The design charts were developed from investigations in which it was

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

of t:.F/ F 0 = 0.25 can be realized by installing horizontal drains having le~gths

This investigati on was conducted in the Departmen t of Civil E ngineering ,

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

the Netherlands, Vol. 3, 1948, pp . 256-260.

The following symbols are used in this paper:

F safety factor against slope failure for slope containing drains ;

Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division, 1977, 103(11): 1311-1323

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