Case study

A Case Study
INTRODUCTION
Slope failures are downhill movements of rock, soil, regolith or some
combination of these. Regolith is a term we have not used before but it is the
best term to describe any weathered bedrock, or non-cemented sedimentary
deposits of gravel sand silts or clay above the solid bedrock but below the
soil. A lot of factors play a part in slope failure and usually a combination of
more than one eventually causes the event; for instance, improper
construction on a steep slope, followed by heavy rainfall. Although in this
case heavy rain triggered the event, other factors played a part in
destabilizing the slope as well.
SITE DESCRIPTION
The site is located in an eastern suburb in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
located less than 4 kilometres from the city centre and located right next to
Ampang. Puncak Setiawangsa and Bukit Setiawangsa is a neighbourhood
positioned high up on the hills in the midst of a quiet surrounding, just
minutes away from the hurly-burly of the city centre. Setiawangsa Hills, The
original slope angle varied from 60 to 85 supported at the toe by a 43m
high retaining wall. The slope comprises decomposed granitic material, with
some slope-wash deposits. The surface was very messy, reflecting to the
larger failures that had taken place. The engineers are carried out an
extensive site investigation and determined that the retaining wall was the
wrong type.
DESIGN PROPOSALS FOR NEW SLOPE STABILIZATION
A 15m high retaining wall was proposed to support the lower part of
the slope. Above this, the slope was to be re-profiled to a gradient of 1:1 and
surface coconut coir mat would be installed.
INSTALLATION OF COCONUT COIR MAT
The area selected for geotextile application should be graded uniformly
by removing wood, clods and free from other obstructions so that coconut
geotextile comes in complete contact with soil. Seeds of plant species
adaptable to the soil type and region should be mixed with manure or
compost and spread uniformly along the slope.

Compost or manure application is needed only if the soil is poor and the
vegetation is required to establish in shorter period.
Seeding : for coir erosion control blankets or mats with small mesh or open
space, seeding should be done prior to installation of the mat. For open
weave mats and geotextile blankets with more mesh opening space, seeding
can be done after installation.
Trenching : A trench of one and half feet deep and one foot wide should be
made at the top and bottom of slope with the purpose of securing the mat
with backfilled material.
Measuring : The mat which has already been selected for the purpose is then
cut into required lengths. The mats cut to required sizes are unrolled from
top and laid along the slope. While measuring the project site, care should be
taken to ensure that the mat is not stretched and that the measurement
should allow for contact or the coconut geotextile with soil.
Overlapping : It us recommended that coconut fiber textiles overlap a
minimum of 6 to 8 between adjacent parallel rolls, and should be laid along
the width and needs to be secured by staples or stakes. When mat are to be
joined down the slope, place upper mat over lower mat end with 12 overlap
and anchor with two staggered rows of stapples at 12 spacing.
Anchoring : Once the mat has been laid out, first the mat is secured in the
top trench by gauge 11 U shape metal staples.
Wooden stakes can also be used for this purpose. They are usually pegged at
a gap of about 36 inches (1 meter). Keep a minimum edge distance of 2
from the edge of the blankets to the center of the staples or stakes.
Next, it should be made sure that the mat is secured along the face of the
slope between the alternate rows being 36 inches (one meter) being pegged
down in a staggered form and the overlapping at 12 intervals. Bamboo pegs
or wooden stakes (12 long) are also used for securing the mats along the
face of slope as it reduces cost.
The open end of the mat at the lower end of the slope should also be secured
by pegging J hooks to the bottom trench at about 36 (1 meter) and are
covered with cut fill.

After having secured the top & bottom ends the top & bottom trenches
should be filled back with soil. Care should be taken that soil is recompacted
properly and no loose gaps exist which may cause rain water to go beneath
the mat and flow down the slope.
Proper installation is the key to success of erosion prevention products. If
installed improperly even the best storm water control and erosion
prevention materials fail to serve the purpose. Hence important should be
given to secure staking, adequate fabric overlap, key trenching, skilled
construction supervision and aggressive revegetation plants.