Humidity field characteristics in road embankment constructed with recycled construction wastes.

Changes in humidity can influence the mechanical performance of embankments and the bearing capacity of pavement structures. Investigating the characteristics of embankment humidity fields is important in assessing the safety and stability of highways built on embankments. This study conducted long-term monitoring of the humidity within an embankment constructed from recycled construction waste on the Xi'an-Xianyang Highway, China. Humidity field dynamics beneath the road axis, lane, soil shoulder, hard shoulder, and slope at the barricade and arc-shaped protective slope sections are analyzed in detail. The embankment humidity field distribution was uneven due to differences in the initial humidity. Areas around the road axis, sides, and top of the embankment were readily affected by rainfall. Compared with the arc-shaped protective slope section, the barricade section had good water isolation. Damaged or improper drainage components of the pavement and slope can rapidly increase the humidity in areas of water infiltration. The effect of external water infiltration on water migration within the embankment at the barricade and arc-shaped protective slope sections is investigated comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]