Deformation and failure mechanisms of loose and dense fill slopes with and without soil nails

Although fill slopes have been constructed worldwide to meet the needs and development of various human activities for years, the effects of fill density, material type, including gap-graded or well-graded soils, various stabilisation methods, including soil nails, and destabilising agents, including rainfall infiltration, rising ground water and earthquakes, are still not well understood. In this paper, various studies of deformation and failure mechanisms of unreinforced and nailed fill slopes using a geotechnical centrifuge are described and key findings are reported and explained.