LANDSLIDE TREATMENT USING DEEP DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, REINFORCED SOIL

STRUCTURE AND PILE DRIVING SYSTEM

Nicolae Boţu,
Faculty of civil Engineering, Iaşi, Romania
Dan Carastoian,
Proexrom, Iasi, Romania

ABSTRACT: In the past 10 years, 500 m length of Romanian National Road DN15, built along the lakeshore of “Bicaz” Lake
was affected by serious landslide phenomena and differential ground settlement. Torrential and heavy rain in the past two years,
2005 and 2006, increased the activity of landslides and posed serious threats to infrastructure of the road, affecting the entire traffic
in the area. The infiltration of the pluvial water under the road infrastructure increased the water table level and decreased shearing
strength parameters. Finally, using siphon and electro pneumatic drain system we achieved an optimum design solution, which
provide a safety factor for slope stability and eliminated the activity of land slides.
The siphon and electro pneumatic drain system are modern and efficient solutions to deal with potential sliding zone by lowering
the water table. Keeping an artificial low water level is a solution to the problem of localized water pressure above the sliding area.
The great advantage of the siphon drain solutions is that it works without energy. The electro pneumatic drains work using an
electro pneumatic pump by lowering the water table deeper.

Keywords: Landslide; Siphon drain; Electro pneumatic drain; Deep drainage; Water table; Road; Slope stability

1. INTRODUCTION lifted by a siphon. Other techniques are similarly

Since 1986, French engineers have developed a
technique using one or more lines of vertical wells
with gravity extraction of water, through
continuously primed siphon pipes, for use where
soil permeability and consequently abstraction
flows are low; a technique named siphon drains.
Today about 200 siphon drain® sites have been
installed to stabilize shallow landslide areas in
France, Switzerland, Italy and Romania.
Each well is pumped individually through a
siphoning pipe where the diameter is adjusted to the
flow to be pumped. Each siphon pipe is regulated
by a hydraulic accumulator equipped with an
internal siphon inducing a flushing effect, needing
no power, and no moving parts.
Siphon drains are a novel technique for landslide
stabilization, but their efficiency in vertical drains is
limited to 9 meters from the top of each siphoning
pipe, to lower the water surface since this is the
theoretical maximum height of water that can be
limited in their efficiency, for example:
- Electric submerged pumps need a rather high
minimum flow and need frequent maintenance.
- Well points using vacuum are limited to a depth of
6 meters lower than the level of the pump
2. SIPHON DRAIN AND ELECTRO
PNEUMATIC DRAIN PRINCIPLE
2.1. Siphon Drain Principle
One of the main triggers for landslides is high
groundwater levels within the unstable soil mass.
Drainage is therefore a proven method for
stabilizing landslides.
In the landslip, small diameter siphon drains are
placed in vertical drilled drainage wells. These
wells are generally spaced at between 3 to 6 meter
centers and must be sufficiently deep to reach the
layers to be drained. The wells are pumped using
siphon tubes and the slope of the ground under the
influence of gravity [1,4], by introducing the
upstream ends of pipes of variable diameters all the

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way down to the bottom of each well and the down same level as in the accumulator. The water level
stream end towards an outlet manhole, situated will then again rise in both the well and
along the slope (Figure 1). accumulator flushing system up to the
predetermined level and then the flushing cycle
If the water level rises in the well, the siphon will
starts again. The siphon system is shown in Figure 2
flow and abstract water out of the well. The flow
and 3.
will continue until water levels in the well fall,
provided that the flow rate in the siphon is sufficient
to keep the siphon primed. As the water rises PVC hydraulic
accumulator
Flushing
system
Complete
system

towards the top of the siphon the pressure falls, and

may approach a perfect vacuum. In the upstream
section the low pressure causes small bubbles to Siphon
pipe

appear. These bubbles tend to coalesce into larger H

ones further downstream. Two forces act on the
bubbles, firstly buoyancy and secondly hydraulic Horizontal
plan of
force due to the flow in the pipe. If buoyancy reference
Tank always full
becomes the major force, the bubbles will collect at with water placed
into well
the summit of the pipe and combine into a single U shape turned
upwards
large bubble, which in time would break the siphon
flow. This can be avoided by using a system that Figure 2. Siphon tubing and flushing system
automatically flushes out bubbles by turbulent flow.
Well Flushing system

Water table
Level

Siphon pipe
from the well

Figure 3. Flushing system running

Fig. 1. Cross section of a siphon drain network

The flushing system consists of an arrangement of
PVC pipes at the downstream end of the siphon
pipe which acts as a hydraulic accumulator [3].
When the water level in the upstream end in the
drainage well is nearly the same as the accumulator
there is no flow in the siphon pipe. When the water
in both the well and PVC accumulator rises and
reaches a certain level, the stored water is quickly
emptied by a simple flushing. The sudden lowering
of the level of water in the accumulator causes flow
in the siphon pipe which is sufficient to flush out
any air bubbles within the siphon (Figure 3). It is
important that both the siphon pipe and pipe work
in the accumulator is correctly sized to achieve a
sufficient flow rate and duration to remove the air
bubbles from the siphon tube. The flow continues
until the water level in the well is lowered to the
2.2. Technical Description - Siphon Drain
The implementation of a deep drainage system
using siphon drains requires a network of wells,
manholes and interconnecting ducts through which
the siphon tubes run. The main components
comprise:
• Well manholes, minimum 1.5m depth and
1.2m diameter (Figure 4)
• The wells, typically 100-200mm diameter
well with slotted PVC casing and fine gravel
filter surround, are installed through a pre-
formed opening in the base of each manhole
• A polyethylene duct up to 300mm diameter
between each manhole for siphon tubing
(Figure 4)
• Spacing between each well generally between
3m and 6m (Figure 1)

2

Figure 4. Typical manhole with siphon tubing and well.
• The duct is linked to an outlet manhole
(Figure 5), downhill of the well location, into
which the accumulator flushing systems are
installed, one per well.
• Downstream of the outlet manhole, the water
is discharged to a suitable sewer or water
course.
• The siphon tubing varies from 10mm to
20mm diameter allowing a flow of around
2.9m3/day to 24m3/day respectively.
Figure 5. Outlet manhole and flushing system.
2.3. Electro-pneumatic Drain Principle
The electro-pneumatic pump has been developed to
stabilize landslides by intercepting groundwater at
greater depths or lowering groundwater to lower
levels than that capable using siphon drain
techniques [2]. The electro-pneumatic drains are
designed similar to that for the siphon drains with a
network of manholes and ducting for electrical
3
cabling, the pipes for water discharge and the
compressed air supply. The wells are equipped
with slotted PVC well casing of 110 mm internal
diameter and centralizers and fine gravel filter to
ensure its central location and filtering of incoming
water.
The compressor and the air tank can be located up
to 3000 meters away from the control panel, if the
configuration of the site needs it, and the air coming
into the control panel is cleaned and dried by an air
dryer and filters.
Operating principle:
The electro-pneumatic pump is installed in each
well at the required drawdown depth. When the
groundwater rises in the well, it enters in and fills
the pump through a non-return ball valve at its base.
The rising water level first reaches a low level
electrical water level sensor and continues to rise,
and when it finally reaches the high level sensor, an
electrical connection is made by water conductivity.
These two sensors (Figure 6) are linked to a relay,
which opens a solenoid. Compressed air then passes
through the inlet air tube to the electro-pneumatic
pump, filling it with air and pushing water out of
the pump through the outlet tube to the ground
surface to a suitable discharge point. A non-return
ball valve prevents any water coming back in the
pumping chamber.
Figure 6. Electro-pneumatic drain principle
An electrical cable, which is connected to the water
level detector, is linked through the duct to a control
panel. The control panel (Figure 6) contains a relay
and solenoid that controls the operation of the
compressed air-supply pumps. The solenoid switch
controls the compressed air supply allowing it to
pass from the air compressor and its air tank to the
compressed air inlet tube to the pump.
3. CONSOLIDATION WORKS DESCRIPTION
3.1. Introduction
The site is located on road DN 15, 4Km distance of
the viaduct from Poiana Largului, toward Bicaz
Town. There is a mountain zone with an altitude
494-503 above sea level on earth.
The area of the road affected by landslide (Figure 7)
is on the second third of hillside in the right side of
the Bicaz Lake, between “Izvorul Muntelui” Dam
and “Poiana Largului” on Bistrita valley. The radius
of the road curve is large enough to have a normal
visibility. In the past, the configuration of the
original road had been change because of
successive landslides. Presently, the road is few
hundred meters longer.
The grade along existing centre line of the road is
3.80% slope. The slope of the transversal profile is
28-30%.
Figure 7. General view
3.2. Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrogeology
Under geomorphologic aspect, the zone is at the
limit of the Moldavian Sub Carpathian with
Central-Nordic group of the Eastern Carpathian
surrender by hills with a Geosynclinals origin, with
a monocline and folded structure, with clear
tectonics layers and the prominent erosion. The
analyzed zone is located in the top of a folded
structure formed in new phases of folded alpine
with a multiple changing over the years. The relief
is selective with a conglomerate and calcareous
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inversion. The Geologic aspect belongs to the mid-
cretaceous and limits of Jurassic period. The zone id
covered by sedimentary deposits quaternary-
diluvium, gravity and alluvium. The zone is
characteristic of the tectonics structure at the limit
of sub Carpathians aria with the fundament dobroja-
hercynian.
3.3. Existing Pavement Condition
The road DN-15 was built in the early 1960s. Since
then the main intervention was required for
maintenance and road structure affected by soil
stabilization. Between 1975 and 1976, the
configuration of the road had changed. The subject
intervention consisted of a retaining wall,
footbridge and drainage system. In the area of the
proposed site, no intervention was necessary. The
current landslide appeared after 2005 due to
torrential rains. The only construction along the
segment of the road is a retaining wall. The subject
retaining wall is 90 meters in length; width is 0.25-
0.35 meters and the height at 1.50 meters. The
retaining wall was constructed using masonry
natural stone units with cement mortar and
constructed on a stone rigid foundation. The
dilatation joints were installed at every 6 to 10
meters along the retaining wall. In addition, along
the subject segment of the road there are water
sewers that service private developments. For many
years on NR-15, a landslide mass movement
occurred that developed debris-flow on the
upstream hillside toward road. As a further result of
the torrential, heavy rains, this debris-flow was
activated. A great quantity of soil debris seeped
over the retaining wall, spilling onto the road in turn
preventing traffic. As a result, the mentioned debris
required cleaning.
The resulting debris-flow seepage of the road did
not create tremendously significant damage
however; it posed a risk that it can re-occur at any
time causing further problems. Therefore,
immediate action needed to be taken to prevent
future debris flow.
Presently, the existing damages are due to a slow-
moving landslide on the downstream hillside .The
landslides had the following characteristics: length
of 160 m and width being approximately 12 m-30 m
(at the top level of retaining wall). The slope of
hillside is 30% and elevation difference between
upstream and down stream is a variation from 501m
and 545m (accumulative of 44m). The area affected
by landslide (Figure 8) is 3500 sq m and volume of
mass soil movement is 12.200 cm. The maximum
depth of landslide is between 6 to 15 m. The
previously described debris has a composition of
marl, sandstone and clay fragments.
Figure 8. Surface Landslide
The retaining wall did not visibly incur a large
amount of damage however, vertical cracks and
wall movement (particularly at top masonry units)
was observed (Figure 8). The retaining wall was
built without a drainage system and the water
approaching the wall could not drain sufficiently
into the ditch along the roadside. The ditch was
clogged due to the continuous debris flow.
On the downstream we notice two types of
landslides. First landslide is that of the earth
accumulated at the downstream hillside edge,
nearby the road, earth resulted form the upstream
hillside flows over the retaining wall, directly on the
road. The storage of this material was made without
compacting, resulting a decreasing of the slope
stability which can be produced at anytime when a
serious freshet strikes. In the second queue because
of accumulation of the earth in the superior part of
the downstream hillside, the safety factor of the
respective slope was reduced. The lifting of the
underground water level and the pluvial flows leads
to landslides which will have negative effects on the
nearby buildings.
Because of the fact that the water which was sloop
from the upstream hillside were not captured by the
gutters from the front of the retaining wall and
evacuated through sloop footbridge, this one has
flowed gravitational crossing the road at about 30 m
upstream the studied area. Because of the high debit
and the important flow speed, the water washed the
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soil from the proximity of road, towards
downstream, producing erosion to the soil. The
phenomenon had growth in a very short period
leading, in the end to a local landslide which
affected the good running of the road.
On the downstream hillside there is a relatively flat
areas where the accumulated water minimally
ponds. This flat area has a negative slope in certain
areas, which further promotes ponding. The
residents from downstream surrounding areas
complain that the spring excessively ponds
randomly after torrential precipitation.
4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
The damages caused to the road NR-15 are by the
infiltration of the pluvial water leading to
destructive debris-flows activity, one of which
blocked the road. On second turn, the presence of
the underground water at low depths and the storage
of the soil from the road at the superior section of
the downstream hillside, leading to landslide from
this area.
This phenomenon was facilitated by the insufficient
height of retaining wall and the steep slope (30%)
of the hillside.
On another hand entire the drainage system build in
1961-1962 presently are not functional, the drains
are clogged with fine sediment accumulated over
the years.
Another visible aspect that contributed to aggravate
the landslides is the lack of forest and vegetation on
hillsides affected already.
Proper design can minimize many landslides and
debris flows. Presently the soil is very loose due to
previous soil mass-movement (Figure 8) so is
necessary to be compacted mechanically. Between
the stable and the affected areas, the slope should be
smaller that the existing slope (22%). Along of the
modeled surface, in the middle of it, to be installs a
ditch toward retaining wall.
On the entire length of the ditch and 2.5m of each
side, will be installed a geo-cells with concrete
system with height of 5cm. The rest worked area,
1.50m left, to be cover with the seeded top soil
layer. In the final phase, to diminish the water
quantity infiltrated in soil shall plant trees with
pivoting roots.
A trench drain network across the landslide, of
which, the main central drain of 55m and secondary
ditch drainage with length of 6m will be executed.
The secondary drains will be building up at a
distance of 5m so that the water resulted form
infiltrations to be totally captured at the base of this
construction. The drain section dimensions are:
Main network: height 2.00 m, wide 0.80 m
Secondary ditch drainage: height 2.00 m, wide 0.80
m The drains will be filled on a height of 30cm
from base with gravel 3-7 mm, the rest till to
arranged soil (minus 30cm at surface where will be
realized a impermeable clay stopper) with ballast.
Round about will be used a geo-textile with the role
of filter. At base will be placed a rippled PVC pipe
covered in geo-textile, through which will flow the
meteoric drained water.
The filtrated water will be evacuated through the
retaining wall from ordinary masonry through
creating of some weepers. From here the waters will
be captured by the existing ditch located along of
left side of the road.
The structure will be founded on a ballast layer of
30 cm over which will lay a geo-textile layer. The
retaining structure will have a high of 2.54 m and
will be compounded from 11 layers displaced
arranged one over other. Behind this one will be
compacted a granular material 0-70mm, till the
level of road platform. In front of this will be
executed a ditch of concrete which will assume the
pluvial waters which leaching form upstream,
followed on a distance of 3.50m by a geo-cells
mattress of 5cm, filled with soil.
The retaining structure has a total length of 78m.
GENERAL CROSS SECTION
siphon drain
reinforced concrete footing, in section „ L”. The
length of footing will be 63.91m. The thickness of
the horizontally reinforced concrete footing is 70cm
( strength reason), but the vertical side will be 60cm
high providing the foundation for guide rail, a
traffic protection system, which will be installed
after the reconstruction of the road
For general slope stability we applied next technical
solutions:
• the siphon drains solution, by lowering the
water table within 10m depth.
• the electro pneumatic drains, by lowering the
water table within 20-25 m depth.
Finally, using these procedures we achieved an
optimum design solution, which provide a safety
factor for slope stability and the eliminated the
activity of land slides.
REFERENCES
1. Boţu, N., Carastoian, D. (2003) Slope stabilization with
siphon drains, International Consortium of Landslides,
Second Annual General Meeting, Vancouver.
2. Bomont S. (2002) Drainage with electro pneumatic
drains, Conference JNGG 2002 Nancy – France.
3. Gress, J.C. (1996) Dewatering a landslip through
siphoning drain – Ten years experiences, Proc 7th
International Symposium on Landslide (Trondheim)
4. Boţu, N., Carastoian, D. (2004) Metodă modernă de
stabilizare a versanţilor prin coborârea pânzei de apă
freatică, The 10th National Geotechnical Conference,
II: 465-470,

electro pneumatic
clay with
sand layers
drain
initial water level
clay with
sand layers

drawdown pile driving system landslip surface

clay
clay

Figure 9. Typical cross section.

System piles provide an affordable and efficient
solution to foundation setting and slope
stabilization. The piles in the model foundation
have the 18cm diameter and they are line up in 3
rows along a 63.36m road. The poured concrete
piles will be extended to a depth of 7m and
reinforced with longitudinal bares and hooped
reinforcement. In the top, all 44 concrete piles will
be tied together providing the base for the road, a