ROAD CUTTING

Introduction

 Roads are important for any country and its

development.

 Major duties of civil engineer-

Design
Planning
Construction
Maintenance
Geological investigations

Geological investigations provide

 Topography

 Lithological character of rocks or soil

 Geological Structures.

 Groundwater conditions
Geological investigations provides :

Topography : 
 Single most important factor

 Topographic maps reveals existence of land features

 Knowledge of topography is essential

 To decide cuttings
Retaining Wall
 To give retaining walls

 To obtain topographical details

 Preliminary Surveys

 Aerial Surveys
Geological investigations provides :

Lithological character : 

 Geological surveys should provide details like

 Composition of rocks

 Texture of rocks

 Structure of rocks

 Origin of rocks
Geological investigations provides :

Ground divided into parts:

 Massive groups of rocks
 Can stand even with vertical
slopes
 Requires blasting operations
 Stand erect year without
much maintenance
 Unconsolidated group
 Requires soil investigations
 Investigation of clay layers
at critical places
Geological investigations provides :

Geological structures :

 Structural features of rocks have very important bearing upon

 Design of cuts

 Stability of road

 Structural features of rocks

 Dip & Strike

 Joints

 Fault planes
Geological investigations provides :
Dip and strike : 

a.) Cut is parallel to dip direction.

 Offers a uniform behavior on either side of the cut.

 Risk of failure is minimal

Geological investigations provides :

Dip and strike : 

b.)Cut is made parallel to the strike.

 Right angles to dip direction results in plunge of strata.

 On dipping side there is always likelihood of slips

Geological investigations provides :

Dip and strike : 

c.)Cutting inclined to dip and strike

Strata will dip across cutting and the slope of cutting will be unequal on

both sides.

Measures include:

 Enlarging of section

 Provision of retaining wall

 Very effective drainage system

 Geological investigations provides :

Joints and faults :

JOINTS

 Influence the stability of cuts

 Jointed rocks have to be provided artificial

supports by breast walls and retaining walls for

ensuring stability.

FAULTS

 Crushing of stones along fault planes and shear

zones


Geological investigations
provides :

WEATHERING
 Softer layer of rock get weathered at a faster rate than the

overlaying harder rock.

 Cause slip or falls of whole face.

 Cleaning of slopes from loose debris and flattering for avoiding

debris shall be needed.

 Constructing concrete walls against fracture zones.

Geological investigations
provides :
GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS

 Necessary to investigate thoroughly the position of water table.

 Water exerts influence on the bearing capacity of the rocks and soil.

 In case of ground with rich moisture, properties of ground have been

determined.

 Condition of free-flow of groundwater through the soil is quite dangerous.

Geological investigations
provides :
ROADS IN HILLY AREAS.

• Shortest alignment is difficult.

• Aerial surveying is necessary.

• Structural features of rocks have to be considered.

ROADS IN WATER LOGGED AREAS.

• Roads get deformed and damaged .

• Measures:-

1)Lower down the water table.

2)Increase thickness of road crust.

Geological investigations provides :

ROADS IN MARSHY REGIONS

 Failure due to subsidence might be the threat to the stability of the

road.

 Geological investigation should reveal presence of unstable material at

critical depths.

 Treatment:-

1) Excavate the weak soil or other such material and replace it with

sound material.

2) Inducing strength by artificial means.

Geological investigations provides :

ROADS IN PERMAFROST REGIONS.

 When a road is constructed over a frozen ground, the warm fill material

acts as a blanket over the inter-granular below and thus causes its

melting, which causes subsidence because the soil below becomes

temporarily saturated.

 Treatment:-

A well planned insulating layer should be given in between the

warm fill of the road surface and the ice below.

THANK YOU!