Topic outline

  • Special Geotechnical Issues relating to Stream Stabilization

    Credits: 3 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    The purpose of this course is to describe special geotechnical problems related to stream stabilization projects.

    Soil bioengineering measures increase stream roughness and slow the water velocity near the slope face. They also armor and reinforce the surface soils. However, some problems with instability and excessive erosion of streambanks are not readily solved by soil bioengineering techniques alone.

    Problems involving rotational failures of streambanks, piping (sapping) of bank soils, and shallow slides in highly plastic soils are difficult to solve using only soil bioengineering techniques. Erosion on streambanks in highly dispersive clay soils also cannot be solved with soil bioengineering measures alone. If appropriate remedial solutions are to be designed, engineers and planners must recognize and understand special instability problems that have underlying geotechnical causes. Analyzing bank slopes for geotechnical stability requires an understanding of a complex system of forces.

    Topics:

    • parameters used for classifying soils into engineering behavior groups
    • recognizing streambank instability and erosion problems that have geotechnical root causes
    • piping/sapping of streambanks
    • surficial failures in blocky structured, highly plastic clays
    • severe erosion in dispersive clays
    • remedial methods for stabilizing slopes where oversteepening is a result of erosion of the toe of the slope

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion


    Intended Audience: This course is intended for Geotechnical, Civil, Environmental, Water Resources, and other engineers whose job description requires a comprehensive knowledge of geotextile applications and design procedures.

    Publication Source: US NRCS

    Donald Parnell, PE
    • Topic 1