ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with compaction and addresses the issue of water and slope stability. Compaction is achieved by compressing the constituent particles of partially-saturated soils into a denser configuration and, in the process, squeezing the air from the pore spaces in the soil. Compaction is a function of three main variables: soil characteristics, moisture content, and comparative effort. An accurate evaluation of hydrologic conditions is important in predicting the stability of natural slopes and in designing against the potential adverse impacts of landslides. Hydrostatic pressures contribute not only to the failure of man-made earth structures, but also to the failure of natural slopes. The mode of slope failure in rock is primarily controlled by the pattern of discontinuities within the rock mass. In evaluating the potential stability conditions of natural or artificial slopes, it is important to consider the highest anticipated levels of the water table.
