Embankment (earthworks)
Imagine you are playing in a sandbox and you want to make a big hill. You start by piling up sand in the middle of the box until you have a big mound. But when you get to the top, you notice that some of the sand is falling down the sides.
This is because sand, like all other substances, has its own limits. If you pile it up too high, it will start to slide down the sides of the box. This is exactly what happens when people build roads or railways on hilly terrain. If the ground is too steep, the vehicles won't be able to climb up it, and they might even slip and fall off the road.
To prevent this from happening, engineers often build embankments. An embankment is a man-made hill that is built on top of the natural terrain. This hill is designed to provide a smooth and even surface for vehicles to travel on.
To build an embankment, engineers start by digging out a wide trench along the proposed road or railway bed. This trench is then filled with earth and packed down until it becomes a solid foundation. The engineers then continue to add layers of earth on top of this foundation until they reach the desired height.
As the embankment grows taller, the engineers must be careful to make sure that it doesn't collapse under its own weight. To prevent this, they add layers of stone or gravel to the embankment to provide additional support. They also slope the sides of the embankment at an angle that is steep enough to keep the earth from sliding down but not so steep that it will collapse.
Once the embankment is complete, it will look like a giant hill that runs alongside the road or railway. Vehicles will drive on top of it without even realizing that they are traveling over an engineered structure. The embankment will provide a smooth and stable foundation for the road or railway bed, ensuring that it remains safe and reliable for years to come.
This is because sand, like all other substances, has its own limits. If you pile it up too high, it will start to slide down the sides of the box. This is exactly what happens when people build roads or railways on hilly terrain. If the ground is too steep, the vehicles won't be able to climb up it, and they might even slip and fall off the road.
To prevent this from happening, engineers often build embankments. An embankment is a man-made hill that is built on top of the natural terrain. This hill is designed to provide a smooth and even surface for vehicles to travel on.
To build an embankment, engineers start by digging out a wide trench along the proposed road or railway bed. This trench is then filled with earth and packed down until it becomes a solid foundation. The engineers then continue to add layers of earth on top of this foundation until they reach the desired height.
As the embankment grows taller, the engineers must be careful to make sure that it doesn't collapse under its own weight. To prevent this, they add layers of stone or gravel to the embankment to provide additional support. They also slope the sides of the embankment at an angle that is steep enough to keep the earth from sliding down but not so steep that it will collapse.
Once the embankment is complete, it will look like a giant hill that runs alongside the road or railway. Vehicles will drive on top of it without even realizing that they are traveling over an engineered structure. The embankment will provide a smooth and stable foundation for the road or railway bed, ensuring that it remains safe and reliable for years to come.
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