The proposed hydraulic sand-fill embankment was located in a valley. The hydraulic sand-fill was pumped from a nearby river and had noticeable silt content. In locations where some fines were present, the fines were successfully transported away as part of the surface water drained away from the hydraulic fill. A layout of the approach embankment section is shown in Figure 1. The foundation of the embankment was in alluvium. As founda-tion treatment, the weaker natural overlying strata was excavated and replaced with sand.
During construction, there were no signs of basal movement and hence bearing capacity of the foundation was not in question and was expected to be able to support the embankment.