Soil structure effect on soil erosion potential

Abstract

Soil erosion poses a significant threat to water-related infrastructure such as bridges, dams, quays, and levees by detaching and transporting soil grains downstream, thereby compromising the structural support of these installations. While erosion damage is acknowledged in current design practices, understanding soil erosion parameters requires scrutiny. However, existing soil erosion databases mainly rely on reconstituted soil samples, which may differ substantially from in situ erosion due to alterations in soil structure. This study scrutinizes and contrasts the erodibilities of in situ and reconstituted soils. In situ soil samples were obtained using thin-walled Shelby tubes from Victoria, Canada, while reconstituted specimens were prepared in a slurry state and consolidated to match the overburden pressure on-site. A custom rotational erosion testing apparatus facilitated erosion testing on both Shelby tube and reconstituted specimens. The findings shed light on the influence of soil fabric on soil erosion potential, an aspect currently lacking in comprehensive understanding.