On the Introduction of Constructions to Retain the Sides of Deep Cuttings in Clays, or Other Uncertain Soils (Classic Reprint) (Paperback) | Released: 08 Feb 2019

Excerpt from On the Introduction of Constructions to Retain the Sides of Deep Cuttings in Clays, or Other Uncertain Soils
No. 689. "On the introduction of Constructions to retain the sides of deep Cuttings in Clays, or other uncertain soils." By Professor Hosking.
Deep cuttings are not only expensive, but their sloped sides are in most soils so uncertain, and subject to so many contingencies - involving unforeseen outlay, as well as danger to the works, and incidently to human life also; - that any mode of operation, which would have the effect of rendering them more secure, though the original expense were not reduced, would be deserving of consideration; but if it can be shown, that perfect security can be obtained at reduced cost, the consideration becomes even more interesting.
The expense of the first formation of a cutting under given circumstances is easily calculable, and so is the time within which the work may be effected. Experience has proved that there is, for every soil, a limit in depth, beyond which it becomes more expedient to drift the required way, and construct an arched tunnel of sufficient dimensions, than to make an open cutting with the requisite slopes. Even when the first cost would not decide the question, the preference is nevertheless, often given to the tunnel because of the greater security of constructed work, than of the sides of an open cutting. There is, indeed, in practice, a considerable range, within which it has always been uncertain whether - taking all things into consideration in each particular case - tunnelling or open cutting is the fitter expedient and it is in this intermediate range, that something seems to be desirable, which has not hitherto been practised.
A tunnel, it may be remarked, is expensive, not from the nature and extent of its constructions, but from the circumstances in which those constructions must be executed. The mere constructions are less than would be consumed by common retaining walls to the sides of a cutting, not deeper than the height of an ordinary railway tunnel.
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