Type of Document Master's Thesis Author Hicks, Jason Author's Email Address jhick12@tigers.lsu.edu URN etd-08302011-110325 Title Investigation into the Cause of Earthen Embankment Instability Along the “V-line” Artificial Levee in Marrero, Louisiana, USA Degree Master of Science (M.S.) Department Geology & Geophysics Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Lorenzo, Juan Committee Chair Abu-Farsakh, Murad Committee Member Bart, Phillip Committee Member Keywords
- orleans
- new
- failure
- slope
- instability
- v-line
- la
- usa
- louisiana
- marrero
- levee
- embankment
- seismic
- shear
- strength
- earthen
Date of Defense 2011-05-13 Availability unrestricted Abstract The “V-line” levee, located in Marrero, LA, has a crack along its crest, measuring approximately100 meters in length, 30 centimeters in depth, and 30 centimeters in width. This crack is a sign of levee instability. Seismic shear wave, CPT, and laboratory shear strength data were collected and processed to identify the cause of the instability. A zone of low seismic shear wave velocity was interpreted approximately 3 meters deep from the berm of the levee. Because of the large spacing between laboratory shear strength test sampling and CPT sites, a similar zone of low shear strength was not found in the CPT and laboratory shear strength data. High contents of peat and organic clay were interpreted within and
beneath the levee fill using CPT data; the location of the highest contents of organic clay and peat correspond to the location of the levee instability. Organic material tends to have a lower shear strength and higher water retention which can cause lower shear strengths and higher shear stress after heavy rainfall. Based on the location of the crack at the crest of the levee and the zone of low seismic shear wave velocity, it is likely that the crack at the crest of the levee is a precursor to slope base failure.
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