A review of floodwater impacts on the stability of transportation embankments

Infrastructure embankment failures due to flooding have been recorded in many countries. The consequences of flood-induced mainly limited infrastructure downtime; however, caused fatalities and include multiple near-miss events. Here we review the types flood which cause transportation failure associated failure, processes potential for lasting slope weakening after flooding. Four transport are identified; offset head, overtopping, basal floods at toes above slopes. Failure is by flood-specific including rapid drawdown, sliding, scour internal erosion addition development destabilisation from effective normal stress decrease saturation loading. Existing modelling tends focus on single events with consideration repeat long-term degradation strength may occur following rainfall Although there a well-developed understanding generic landslide development, suggest that has destabilising effects dynamic conditions develop during Furthermore, while live traffic loading high speed trains previously considered shown destabilisation, such previous work found be specific structures not representative wider rail network considerable uncertainty exists older earthworks. We conclude this identifying future research priorities help improve prediction mitigation instability.