Investigation of slip failures at Henrietta and Anna Regina

Investigation of slip failures at Henrietta and Anna Regina

Van der Meer, J.W.
De Wit, J.M.

Rijkswaterstaat

KWP-collection

1996-10-01

More than six kilometers of rehabilitation works on sea defences at the Essequibo and West Deroerara coast of Guyana has been constructed within one year. This shows the fast construction of the riprap revetment design. The performance of the structure was good until the last month of construction when two slip failures occurred of a bout 100 m length each. The slip failures occurred at Henrietta and Anna Regina. It is a well known fact that the coast of Guyana consists of (very) weak clay layers and various slip failures have happened in the past, and will probably happen again. That two slip failures occurred does not mean that the riprap design is not a good design. It shows that (also) with this design indeed slip failures are possible and that one should be aware of this possibility and take measures if required. An advantage of the riprap design is that a slip failure is fairly easy to repair, although not according to the original design slope. The slip failures were reason for the Commission of the European Communities to invite two experts to investigate these slip failures.

revetment
embankment
geotechnical failure

TPG1300

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:0bc9b792-6349-4e43-8045-929470d0baea

Deltares (WL)

H3059 by Delft Hydraulics and Delft Geotechnics for Guyana Sea Defence Lome IV Project, Essequibo/West Demerara locations

Hydraulic Engineering Reports

report

(c) 1996 Deltares