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GENERAL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

CUTTING DRAINS

CONTENTS

GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER I. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONS

CHAPTER II. MATERIALS USED

CHAPTER III. QUALITY ASSESSMENT

CHAPTER IV. NORMATIVE REFERENCES

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Drains are constructions needed for:

- collection and organized/ controlled evacuation of infiltration waters
- decreasing ground water levels when they can negatively impact on roadbed
behaviour or on performance of other works
- consolidation of slopes, earthworks and versants, which might affect the road
platform or other works
- improving work conditions and ensuring stability of the retaining walls, bridge
and passageway abutments
Drains in open cut can be executed manually, usually down to 6.0 m in depth, and
mechanically, down to 3.0 m. Higher depth values shall be justified in the designs.
In order to avoid water accumulation behind constructions with a retaining purpose, and
in order to reduce the variation interval of earth pressure exerted on these constructions
under the influence of external factors, a drainage system must always be executed
behind the construction, which shall operate throughout overall execution of works.
The works are measured in m of cutting.

Execution phases have various features, depending on the adopted solution:

execution of the cut;
execution of the drain body (foundation plate, drainage tube, drained filling, geo-
textile material cover);
execution of the drain end;
execution of manholes.
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CHAPTER I. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATIONS.

Art. 1. Execution of the cut

The cut is executed mechanically or manually, in the direction downstream- upstream.

The longitudinal slope of the drains with a rigid foundation plate ranges between (0.2
10%), depending on the relief conditions and on functionality requirements.
Recommended slope values range between (25%).

The longitudinal slope of the drains with an elastic foundation plate depends on relief
conditions and functionality requirements, ranging between 0.2% and the maximum
allowed slope for ditches and protected gutters, indicated in STAS 2916, item 22.

The following measures shall be taken before start of works:

signaling the working area, in compliance with instructions in force;
ensuring drainage of meteoric waters from site;
cleaning and scraping materials threatening to fall off from the gradients or slopes
inside the working area or on the road platform;
identifying possible aerial / underground installations and as well as the titular
unit, which shall establish the most effective work safety requirements;
pegging out the works;
organizing and supplying the work point with the necessary materials in a
proportion of 50%.

The following measures shall be taken during execution of cuts:

to ensure safety of existing buildings and installations, visible or embedded as
well safety of neighbouring works currently under execution;
to restrict traffic speed to 5 km / hour, inside the sliding prism;
Signaling systems, retaining structures and stability of the earth around the cut
shall be verified daily at the start and at the end of works, in order to take the
necessary measures, to avoid possible landslides and accidents.

The cuts are executed with vertical walls, without supports, manually or mechanically,
under the following conditions:
the ground is stable and has natural humidity;
the ground does not have fissures and is not exposed to vibrations;
the cut is not kept open and the filling works are performed in the same day;
no traffic is allowed inside the possible breaking prism, there are no particular
buildings or other loads that can cause overcharge/ overload;
the depth of the cut is relatively small, respectively 1.0 m inside solid plastic soils
and dense sands and 1.5 m inside compact soils.

If the cut is executed mechanically and the technology used to obtain the drain fill does
not require that workers descend inside the cut, under the abovementioned conditions,
then the depth can be increased to maximum 2.0 m.
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When the depth of the cut exceeds 1.0 m, respectively 1.5 m, the cuts are chamfered
without supports down to maximum 2.0 m depth, or they are executed vertically, with
retaining walls on the entire depth.

The cuts with vertical slopes in stable soils with stiff or very stiff consistency are
executed with horizontal supports adapted to the real site conditions, based on an
execution design.

In the case of unstable soils, difficult soils (loess, contractile argyle etc), loosened soils,
with water infiltrations, or under special local conditions, irrespective of the depth, the
support is executed based on an execution design with frames and vertical planks
(possibly marciavante (?) or pile planks), which form a continuous and airtight wall.
These vertical planks are rammed in advance (0,50,75 m) taking into account the level
of the cut.

The excavated earth shall be stored at least 1.0 m away from the cutting wall and the
materials will be stored at a distance of min. 5.0 m. These distances can be reduced to
half in the case of cuts for drainages usually below 2,0 m in depth.

In areas with embedded cables, pipes, archeological sites etc, the cuts are executed
carefully, in compliance the written instructions by the tutelary unit of the installations,
and if possible under the supervision of the unit delegate.

If during execution of the cuts underground installations are discovered, the works shall
be interrupted immediately and the installations shall be identified; the tutelary unit shall
also be notified. The works may be resumed only after elimination of the danger and
under the supervision of the unit delegate.

Drainage excavations shall be executed on at least three 4-6 m sections, in the direction
upstream-downstream, permanently ensuring free fall water drainage from the cuts.
The cut in the next section shall only be executed after the first section is filled for at least
half the depth.
The support/ retaining structures shall be dismounted as the drain body is being executed.
In the case of mechanized cuts, the excavation and filling works shall be performed
successively, so that there are no open cuts at the end of the working day. This technology
is usually applied for drains with chamfered, perforated drainage pipes, and with drain
bodies made of gravel and ballast; if necessary a geotextile filter may also be used.

In the case of drains executed behind support/ retaining structures, manual or mechanized
excavation is performed simultaneously with excavations for the support/ retaining
sector, with or without support /retaining structures, depending on the nature of the
ground.
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Article 2. Execution of the drain body

The body of the drain used for capture of infiltration waters or for lowering ground water
levels, comprises an foundation plate, gutter, drainage filling, geotextile material and
insulating/ closing lid. The body of evacuation drains has the same components, except
that the drainage filling can be executed on a reduced height.

The drain foundation plate can be rigid or elastic. The rigid foundation frame is made of
class C16/20 concrete, with the gutter in the middle, embedded in stabile soils with low
permeability or practically impervious, and with average, low or no compressibility. The
recommended transversal slope is 2-5% towards the gutter.

The water shall be collected and directed through drains with rigid foundation frames by
gravitational means, through gutters covered with semi-round lids, dry walls or
chamfered pipes.
The elastic foundation frame is executed by compaction of the soil at the foot of the drain
cut in the case of perfect drains, or they are made of a 20 cm ballast layer in the case of
imperfect drains.

Waters are collected and directed into elastic foundation frame drains through drainage
pipes with feet or through PVC perforated chamfered pipes, placed directly at the base of
the cut, in the case of perfect drains and respectively on a 20 cm ballast layer in the case
of imperfect drains.

The geotextile filter is laid so that the strips are superimposed on at least 20 cm, so that
soil does not penetrate into the drain body. The strips should be mechanically sewn at the
edges: in this case superimposition is necessary on only 2-3 cm, or in compliance with
geotextile manufacturer technology.

The materials are introduced into the cut mechanically or using cradles. The ballast,
gravel and soil can also be dropped directly into the cut.
The drain body is executed through compaction, in layers 30-40 cm thick in the case of
ballast filling, or by loosening the coarse stone/ rubble in order to prevent settlement of
the cover.
The cover filling is compacted into 15-20 cm thick layers, with a 90-95% compaction
degree.
The drainage closing cover can be executed as follows:
- dry wall made of coarse stone/ rubble of river gravel with cement mortar, in the shape
of a caisson, gutter or ditch, on a bed of class C 8/10 concrete;
- dry wall made of class C16/20 concrete slabs or made of simple concrete precast slabs
of the came class, on a bed of class C 8/10 concrete, whose joints are bound together with
mortar of bituminous mortar;
- local argyle soil lid/ cork, tightly compacted and protected with seeded topsoil.

The closing cover is executed for all drain types except transversal interception drains, on
the section located under the road carriageway, because this type of drains must also
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collect water from the road sub-base; in this case the road pavement becomes the cover of
the drain.
In the case of drains located behind support/retaining structures, execution of the drain
body has the following particular features:

- Evacuation of water collected into the drain behind the retaining wall, as well as the
drainage through ventilation, are performed via weepers, usually built with a circular
section of ??? mm (illegible) arranged on at least two rows, two for each row, and for
each 6.0 m wall section;
- The drains foundation frame with gutters is equipped with counter-slopes that collect
the waters and direct them towards the weepers.
- In the case of embankment of cutting retaining walls, whose elevation is made of
precast elements of stone masonry, the drain behind the wall is executed simultaneously
with execution of the elevation.

In the case of embankment and cutting retaining walls with a wooden elevation, the drain
behind the wall is executed immediately after removal of shuttering, before any load
forces are exerted on the respective drain.
Access to narrow spaces behind the wall is only allowed in areas protected by the
support/ retaining structures, in compliance with design provisions.

The drain behind the retaining walls is executed simultaneously with the filling behind
the wall for loading.
The filling is executed in tightly compacted layers, in order to ensure the appropriate
value of the geotechnical indicators taken into account during sizing of the retaining wall;
the compaction degree of the layers shall be higher than 90-95%.
Drain depth is measured from the crest/ ridge of the wall or from the edge of the cut
slope, in the cases when the edge of the slope is above the wall ridge.

Art. 3. Manholes

In order to control the operation and to ensure the necessary repair and maintenance
conditions for the drains, manholes are executed on the drain route, placed (5070 m)
one between the other. Inspection chambers are also executed in the case of drain
direction changes, and at the intersection of two or more drains.
Manholes shall be equipped with holes at their upper end, to ensure natural ventilation.
The end of the upstream drainage pipe in the inspection chamber has to be at least 10 cm
above the end of the downstream evacuation drainage pipe.

Art. 4. Air shafts

At the upstream end of the drains, smooth PVC tubes with a 110 mm diameter are
mounted in a C 16/20 concrete foundation plate (raft), changed to the superior end, in
order to obtain slits/ ports for natural ventilation.
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The airshafts, the manholes and the ends of the drains are designed and realized so as to
ensure functionality of gravitational drainage as well to that of drainage by the natural
ventilation.

Art. 5. The drain head/end

Each drain is finished with a drain head/end, used role to daily/ permanently
discharge/evacuate waters collected inside the drain and to ensure the necessary
conditions for repair revision and maintenance works.

The drain end/ head is made of plain concrete C 16/20, in compliance with the design.

Chapter II. MATERIALS USED

Art. 6. Gravel

Gravel of (740 mm) is used inside the drain filling, with continuous granularity, as per
SR 667.

Art. 7. Rubble stone

Non-gelid rubble stone of maximum 200 mm shall be used into the drainage filling, as
per STAS 2917. Rubble stone is also used for the dry wall operating as drain closing
covers, or for the masonry of the water evacuation drain end/head.

Art. 8. Ballast
Ballast (STAS 662-89), sort (0-71 mm), with continuous granularity is used to provide
the upper part of the drain body.

Art.9. Geo-textiles

For the drains inside the cut, the geo-textile is used as a reverse filter, with characteristics
indicated in the design, depending on the type of soil and on drain depth.

Art. 10. Drainage pipes

Perforated, chamfered pipes made of PVC or polyethylene, with a 65-120 mm diameter,

are used for water collection drains; the pipes are laid down directly on the foundation
plate and they are protected with a drainage filling of ballast or gravel.

Access of water inside drains is provided through slits/ slots/ ports of 1.0 x 5.0 mm or 1.5
x 8 mm; the number of slits shall generate an active surface (water access into pipes) of
(2450 cm) per linear meter of pipe.
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The smooth non-perforated PVC pipes of (STAS 6675/2-92) with a 1,100 mm diameter
are used to direct waters inside the discharge/evacuation drains and also to built the air
shafts.

Art. 11. The concrete

Plain concrete type C 16/20 is used to execute the foundation plate of the rigid drain, as
well as to build the concrete bed below the dry wall bound with cement mortar, from the
drain closing cover/ lid or from the discharging/ evacuation drain end.

Art. 12. Precast concrete pipes.

Precast concrete pipes with circular section D= 1,000 mm are used in execution of
manholes, as per STAS 816.

Art. 13. The steel

OB37 steel concrete shall be used for execution of access stairs into the manholes, as per
STAS 438/1-89.

Chapter III. QUALITY VARIFICATION

Art. 14. Execution of the cut

At this stage, the quality control consists in:
verification of the works location;
inspection of the foundation ground level of the foundation plate;
verification of size and slope of the foundation ground of the foundation plate;
verification of support/retaining structures, if they are required by the design
verification of the length of the excavation section.

Art. 15. Execution of the drain body

verification of longitudinal and transversal slopes of the rigid foundation plate;

verification of the type and size of the water collecting pipe and its location on the
foundation plate;
quality verification of the geotextile used in the project, consisting in:
o identification of the product by examining labels applied on the bales
(packs);
o determination of unitary mass;
o verification of storage and manipulation conditions;
o verification of geotextile placement in order to ensure continuity
(superimposition or sewing);
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o protection of geotextiles against wind action

o traffic restrictions on the geotextile layer;
o verification whether discharge of filling material does not generate
perforations of the geotextile;
verification of ballast or gravel quality on aggregate lots of the same type and
sort, maximum 200 t; verification is performed by the lot verification method,
monitoring the granularity, foreign bodies, levigable parts;
verification of drainage filling compaction.

Art. 16. The execution of the drain end

Drain functionality shall be verified by monitoring the flow/ discharge for (510) days.
If the flow remains relatively constant, then the drain has entered a continuous regime of
operation.

In case the flow is continuously diminishing, the drain can be silted, it can lose the
collected water or there is no free groundwater left. This type of verification is efficient
only if piezometric tubes are mounted in order to monitor groundwater level variation in
the active area of the drains.

Art. 17. The execution of the visiting hearths

At this stage, upstream drain pile shall be verified; the upstream drain pile shall be placed
at least 10 cm above the quota of the tubular end of the downstream drain;
verification of upstream drain functionality.

All these verifications are performed in compliance with Practice Code NE 012-99,
approved by MLPAT with Order no 59/N on Aug 24th 1999 and in compliance with Law
no 10/95, as well as based on a Program for control the works quality, agreed between
the designer, beneficiary, constructor. All the verification/ checking activities shall
conclude with a report for hidden works, a quality acceptance report or a report.