ABSTRACT
Cracks development caused by wetting-drying cycle is one of the key factors resulting in instability of expansive soil slope. In order to find an effective method of strengthening expansive soil slope, a field model test was carried out. Field test results show that using geo-membrane as coverage on the surface of expansive soil slope can significantly reduce the change range of slope water content, mitigate the cracks development, maintain high soil suction, and then finally strengthen expansive soil slope. Numerical analyses are carried out to discuss the factors influencing the effect of this method including slope configuration, coverage range, permeability of soils, rainfall intensity, rainfall duration, underground water level etc.
