Memorandu Northeastern Region Geotechnical

m
Section
447 McKeown Avenue, Suite 301
North Bay, ON P1B 9S9
Phone: (705) 497-5478
Fax: (705) 497-5499

TO: P. Lecoarer 08 February 2005

Head, Planning and Design
Northeastern Region

RE: Use of Mid-slope Berms for Rockfill Embankments

Northeastern Region

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide relevant background information regarding the
use of mid-slope berms for rockfill embankments, and to provide recommendations for updated
guidelines.

Background
Within Northeastern Region, requirements for mid-slope berms in rockfill embankments are
documented within Section 2.3.2 Fills on page 21 and 22 of the Northern Region Pavement
Design Practices and Guidelines (NR-PDP&G) dated 1997/05/20. Specifically, “For rock fills
constructed with 1.25:1 (H:V) sideslope, 2.0 m wide berms are incorporated, so that no
uninterrupted rock fill slope is greater than 6.0 m in high.”

This guideline was developed following consultation with the Foundation Design Section in
early 1991 (reference Foundation Design Section memorandum from D. Dundas to J.
McDougall dated 1991/05/31). The memorandum outlined general recommendations for
surficial stability of rockfill embankments as follows:
- for 1.25H:1V slopes, incorporate nominal berms (1 to 2 m wide) so that no
uninterrupted slope is greater than 6 m high.
- for 1.5H:1V slopes, incorporate nominal berms (1 to 2 m wide) so that no uninterrupted
slope is greater than 10 m high.
The memorandum also notes that deep-seated stability may dictate wider berms and deep-
seated stability of sites must be evaluated based on site-specific subsurface information.

Discussion
It is noted that the above referenced guideline pre-dates changes to MTO construction
procedures that were initiated in 1999 to improve compaction and long term performance of
rockfill embankments (i.e. layered construction and compaction versus end-dumping) to
minimize long-term settlement of rockfills.
 2

It was recognized at the time of changing the rock fill embankment construction practice that
the requirement for these berms was too stringent, but the Geotechnical Section decided to
observe the results of the new practice before making a change.

It was recently noted by the Foundation Section (reference memorandum from T. Sangiuliano
to R.Hong dated 2005/01/21 for G.W.P. 759-93-00 & G.W.P. 742-93-0) that consideration
should be given to relaxing the requirements for berms for rock fills heights from 6 to 10
metres.

Recommendations
Observed performance of recently constructed rockfill embankments within Northeastern
Region have demonstrated that improved construction procedures are producing better
performing rockfill embankments with improved surficial stability (i.e. stable sideslopes). It is
acknowledged that the current guideline is conservative given the improved construction
procedures.

With the Foundation Sections concurrence, the Geotechnical Section recommends that the
guidelines for surficial stability of rockfill embankments be revised as follows,
- for 1.25H:1V slopes, incorporate nominal berms (2 m wide) so that no uninterrupted
slope is greater than 10 m high.

Closure
Please call me at your convenience to discuss any issues or concerns.

J. Wright, P.Eng.
Project Soils Engineer, Geotechnical Section

Approved by:

D. Smith, P.Eng.
Head, Geotechnical Section

cc: M. Trickey
T. Kim
D. Dundas
T. Sangiuliano
L. Boyd
I. Steblynsky
File

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