Pore Pressure Reduction

THE PROBLEM

Excess pore water pressure is what turns a stable slope marginal and a marginal slope active. The fix is mechanical: install drains to let the water out, then instrument the formation to confirm pressure actually came down. Skip either step and you're back on site sooner than the design assumed.

JDC'S APPROACH

JDC's horizontal drain program is built for exactly this problem. Drains run up to 1,500 feet in depth, at angles from 30 degrees below to 60 degrees above horizontal, and produce satisfactory results in a wide range of soils and rock formations. We've been refining this work since 1966.

On the verification side, our advanced solutions scope includes pore pressure devices, piezometers, inclinometers, and extensometers. Installed in coordination with the drain layout, these tell the engineer whether the design's pressure-reduction assumption is matching field reality — and provide an ongoing monitoring record the owner can use post-construction.

JDC is also available for consulting on slope stabilization scope where the right drain placement makes the difference between a working fix and an expensive repair cycle.