Abstract

Since soft and sensitive clay soils are found virtually only in Québec, the absence of a general model of trench walls of this type is hardly surprising. This project developed a computer program which models the behaviour of trench walls over time. The model was calibrated using data collected since 1986 at the experimental trench.

The program calculates safe wall slopes from ten physical and mechanical variables entered by the user for each soil type. The model also provides information on the optimum location of monitoring equipment, and on acceptability levels.

This software can be used to precisely quantify the risk of collapse of trench walls, particularly of those dug in the clays found in the James Bay region.