Strength of fill mass Bearing capacity and slope stability

1 Strength of fill mass Bearing capacity and slope stability 

The ability of a fill mass to bear foundations or to sustain slopes is determined by the shear strength of the fill mass and the soil below the fill mass (see Section 8.3). 

A fill often serves as the foundation for buildings, infrastructure, container storage and other structures and must safely transfer these loads to the subsoil. Foundations 

The most relevant slopes of a reclamation area are usually the slopes at the edge of the fill area that often need to be protected against waves and currents. The angle of these slopes and, hence, the required shear strength of the fill, is often determined by the design of the shore protection, but may also be related to boundary conditions such as the nature of the existing subsoil, the quantity of fill available, existing water depths or the presence of adjacent facilities. 

If these measures fail to produce the desired results at acceptable costs the design of the superstructures may have to be changed. Such changes could include, for instance, replacement of shallow foundations by piled foundations or the design of soil retaining structures to achieve the required slopes. 

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