Abstract
The appearance of breaches in recent hydraulic earthstructures due to internal erosion confirms that improving our physical understanding of the phenomenon is urgent. Under the effect of internal flows, earthstructures can undergo a migration of their particles, which modifies the particle size distribution and affects both hydraulic and mechanical characteristics. This paper initially presents a parametric study conducted on sand/kaolin samples. The experimental device described here consists of three modified triaxial cells used to control sample confinement, prevent any parasitic flow and survey sample large deformations. The tests reveal that internal erosion (suffusion or piping) is initiated by the transport of clay particles. The erosion rate, then, depends on the values of the different parameters considered (hydraulic gradient, clay content and filter pore opening size).
Highlights
Irreversible damages due to sliding, overtopping and internal erosion are caused by the presence of water within earthstructures
Among the 11 192 embankment dams surveyed by Foster et al (2000), 136 reveal some dysfunctions, which are divided up as 5.5% for sliding, 46% for internal erosion and 48% for overtopping
To characterize internal erosion initiation, many authors have developed some expressions of the critical hydraulic gradient
Summary
Irreversible damages due to sliding, overtopping and internal erosion are caused by the presence of water within earthstructures. Many parameters (porosity, grain size, confining pressure, hydraulic gradient) influence internal erosion behavior. Different criteria to assess the initiation and development of internal erosion are proposed in the literature (Kenney and Lau, 1985; Khilar et al, 1985). They mostly rest on the material particle size analysis or on the estimation of the erosion critical hydraulic gradient. To characterize internal erosion initiation, many authors have developed some expressions of the critical hydraulic gradient Some of these expressions are strongly dependent on the specific configuration studied and, cannot be applied generally. The present paper reports a study conducted at the Institut de Recherche en Génie Civil et Mécanique (GeM, Saint-Nazaire, France) to provide new data on the effects of internal erosion on sand/clay samples
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