This project was a follow-on activity of an earlier IDEA project (NCHRP-57) for field testing and implementing the horizontal wick drains technology for stabilizing landslides. Work in this follow-on project involved installing and evaluating new field sites and completing the monitoring of the field sites stabilized with horizontal wick drains previously installed in the NCHRP-57 project. The work also addressed technical and economic issues related to the clogging of the drains. In total, more than 170 drains totaling over 8600 feet in length were installed in eight sites in Missouri, Colorado, and Indiana. The drain installation rates averaged over 60 feet per day for cost estimated at approximately $2.50 per foot. Laboratory experiments conducted over a period of two years to assess the potential clogging of wick drains showed varying amounts of fine particles coating the inside strands of the drain fabric. However, the drain’s ability to transmit water was not affected. Finally, a procedure was developed to estimate the shape of the water table surface for drained landslides, using parameters easily measured in the field and laboratory. The wick drain technology to stabilize landslides is now available for implementation. The contractor is working closely with commercial manufacturers, American Wick Drain Corporation and the Nilex Corporation, and the Colorado, Missouri and Indiana DOTs for field implementation of this technology.  The final report is available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS # PB2003-102861).

The final report for this IDEA project can be found at:
https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/archive/studies/idea/finalreports/highway/NCHRP076_Final_Report.pdf