Unsaturated modelling, testing and monitoring towards the rehabilitation of a slope on National Route 3, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The stability of over-steep road embankments often worsens with time. In many cases the slope deterioration can be ascribed to continual downslope creep a surficial layer soil that has been affected by infiltration rainfall. Such reduces suction in interacting environment. With every season moves further downslope, resulting cracks theslow lane and placing structures constructed at crest fill slopes potential jeopardy. A on National Route 3 (N3), South African Province KwaZulu-Natal, roughly 40° from horizontal showed signs distress slow years after construction. rehabilitation this required stabilisation design using unsaturated testing, modelling, in-situ measurement. was stabilised nails, high-tensile steel mesh, measurement system installed. An overview emergency works design, subsequent investigation, monitoring is provided paper. It found profile determined transient finiteelement analysis matched well measured good basis for prior full investigation.