Embankments are man-made barriers made of stones, rocks, and earth that hold back water or support transportation. They come in various sizes and are vulnerable to environmental impacts and structural stress. They are used for water retention and transportation, and are constructed with materials like earth or rock. Embankments need to be monitored regularly to prevent disasters like the flooding of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
An embankment is an artificial barrier designed to hold back water or to support a road, railway or canal. These man-made mounds consist mainly of stones, rocks and earth. Most have sloping sides, just like small hills, and are typically longer than they are high. They can come in a range of sizes; some, such as those that support streams or irrigation ditches, are small, while those that create stability for major channels and the ships that pass through them tend to be quite large. While these barriers, regardless of their size, can help stabilize and sustain their surroundings, they are usually not immune to environmental impacts. They are often particularly vulnerable to structural stress, for example, and need to be monitored regularly for stability. Things like cracks and weak spots usually need to be fixed right away. When structures fail, the communities that depend on them often suffer, sometimes very seriously.
Water retention
One of the main purposes of this type of structures is to retain water to prevent flooding from seas, lakes or rivers onto adjacent land. In many cases they provide protection to lower ground while also acting as an embankment. The barrier helps limit the movement of water by allowing it to flow faster and higher without overflowing, and it also allows for at least some manipulation when it comes to where and how much water is flowing at any given time.
Transportation uses
A related, though different, purpose is to aid in transportation. A carrying embankment is not necessarily related to water, although it can be. Some of the more popular urban examples surround roads that have been carved into the hills and prevent the ground from shifting and sliding, making travel much safer. This type of structure can also be used to support plains, such as valleys, that may need to be crossed.
Some of the more common water-based examples occur in canals and locks, where boats need safe passage but the surrounding coastline is unpredictable. Fixed barriers often work to keep more or less the water level even in heavily trafficked areas such as commercial wharves.
Materials and creation
Most levees are constructed to be immune to surface erosion, and their major components usually help prevent deterioration. These hill-like structures are filled in in a variety of ways. Makeup generally varies depending on the use for which it will be used.
In most cases, these sloping walls are filled with earth or rock. An earth filled barrier is usually the simpler of the two, made mostly of earth and natural materials. Rock-filled alternatives often consist of more granular components such as rocks, stones, and other fragmented particles. Rock piles are usually more ideal for covering larger areas and may be better in seawall settings.
Impacts of stress
Even though they are built to withstand the intensity, these structures can take a beating. Water stress can increase the overall depth, therefore altering the durability of the structure. Before construction, it is usually very important for designers and engineers to calculate the maximum level of stress that can be withstood. This is necessary to ensure that the bank’s breakout level is not exceeded by its stress capacity.
Disaster prevention
Any incorrect configuration during the construction of an embankment could lead to overflows. The overflow of a water barrier, such as a levee, can lead to a disastrous situation for the surrounding area and the communities therein. The massive flooding of New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005 was the result of failed levees. Such failures can occur when water pressure caused by overflow currents begins to erode the stabilizer walls. Preventing this type of large-scale disaster requires coordinating many moving pieces, but proper initial planning and regular monitoring of water retention systems is usually a very important piece.
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