Internal erosion of debris-flow deposits triggered by seepage

Abstract

Debris flows can be triggered by runoffs at considerably steep natural channels and streams. Specifically, runoff-generated debris-flow deposits are loose mixtures, comprising coarse and fine particles. Owing to seeping water, these fine particles are eroded and transported through the skeleton formed by the coarse particles. Such erosion can modify the porosity of deposits and influence their mechanical characteristics, which can be non-negligible for geotechnical and geological engineering. In this study, seven groups of seepage tests on gravel–sand–clay mixtures with different coarse particle content proportions (48%, 52%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%) were conducted to investigate the erosion characteristics of debris-flow deposits triggered by seepage flows. In particular, concentrated leak erosion, internal instability erosion, and piping were noted in the soil with a coarse particle content of 48%–80%. Further, when the coarse particle content exceeds 80%, the soil does not disintegrate. A model coupling seepage and internal erosion was also developed to characterise internal erosion. For this model, mass conservation equations were reformulated for different types of internal erosion, based on the assumptions for the pore channel erosion of suspended materials and general erosion. Moreover, an equation based on the internal erosion rate, considering the pore size distribution and hydraulic gradient, was firstly introduced for concentrated leak and internal instability erosion. This equation could efficiently evaluate the mass of particles eroded from the soil. Lastly, the model was calibrated based on experimental data; the corresponding results are discussed herein.