Journal Published Online: 01 May 2004
Volume 27, Issue 3

Laboratory Tests on the Rate of Piping Erosion of Soils in Embankment Dams

CODEN: GTJODJ

Abstract

The Slot Erosion Test and the Hole Erosion Test have been developed as fast and simple tests for studying the erosion characteristics of soil in cracks in embankment dams. The erosion characteristics are described by the Erosion Rate Index, which measures the increase of erosion rate with respect to an increase in the hydraulic shear stress; and the Initial Shear Stress, which represents the minimum hydraulic shear stress when erosion starts. Knowledge of these erosion characteristics aids in the prediction of the likelihood of embankment dam failure due to piping erosion in a risk assessment process.

Values of the Erosion Rate Index span from 0 to 6, indicating that the changes in erosion rates in response to changes in hydraulic shear stress can differ by up to 106 times across different soils. The Erosion Rate Index is apparently influenced by the soil fines and clay-sized content, plasticity, dispersivity, water content, dry density, degree of saturation, clay mineralogy, and possibly the presence of cementing materials such as iron oxides. Coarse-grained, noncohesive soils, in general, erode more rapidly and have lower Initial Shear Stresses than fine-grained soils.

Author Information

Wan, CF
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Fell, R
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Pages: 9
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: GTJ11903
ISSN: 0149-6115
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11903