Stability analysis of bermed embankment on soft clay

Stability analysis of the bermed embankment on deep soft clay layer is investigated with an aid of the SLOPE/W computer program in order to determine the width of berm required to stabilize the embankment to have the FS of 1.3 and 1.5. The height of the embankment is varied from 2.5 to 4.0 meters, and the undrained shear strength (Su) of the soft clay is varied from 0.7 to 1.5 t/m(2). The berm width obtained from this study is compared to the one obtained from the classical method of Jakobson (1948). It is found that for the same Su and FS, berm width from SLOPE/W Program is more than the one from Jakobson Method for low Su-value of 0.75-1.0 t/m(2). For Su-value in the order of 1.25-1.5 t/m(2), the berm width from both method tends to be in close agreement. The relationship between a parameter (W/H), Su and berm width as obtained from this study can be used to design the bermed embankment on soft clay in place of Jakobson Method. The notations W and H represent the width and the height of the embankment, respectively.