Methods of wetting loess soils in the borrow area for fill in impervious sections of a dam

Conclusions

• 1. Wetting of soil in the borrow area should be carried out in sections formed by dikes 40 cm high. The dimensions of the sections should be selected in accordance with the slope of the site and determined in accordance with the work plan.

• 2. To obtain homogeneous wetting the filling dephth of the sections must be 30–35 cm.

• 3. In order to obtain the necessary depth of wetting, 8–10 m (cutting depth of the UKG-4 excavator) surface wetting must be carried out in summertime for 10 days, maintaining a constant minimum water depth in the section of 30 cm.

• 4. The soil aging time after wetting is 3 months from initial moisture content to a moisture content of 18–22%; keeping the soil beyond this time up to 4 to 6 months has little effect on the moisture content. Therefore, during the hot season, excavation of the soil in the borrow area can start three months after wetting.

• 5. Excavation of the soil is best carried out with a moisture content of 19–21% in the summer and not greater than 18% in the winter.

• 6. The soil maintains an optimum moisture content (16%) for a fairly long time and therefore wetting is not recommended in the winter season.