Abstract
Erosion is one of the main causes of instabilities within hydraulic earth structures. Two types of erosion can be distinguished: internal erosion and surface erosion. This paper deals with the surface erosion phenomenon and the Jet Erosion Test is used in order to evaluate the erodibility of cohesive soils. A new energy analysis of the test is developed, linking the expended energy to the erosion phenomenon. The total eroded mass is correlated to the expended fluid energy and a new erosion resistance index is proposed. The erodibility is evaluated for several natural soil samples which are compacted with the Proctor protocol and which represent a large panel of erosion sensitivity. Two dissipated hydraulic energy scales appear, and a statistical analysis is carried out which gives a correlation of the erosion resistance index with three physical parameters.
Highlights
The interaction between water and hydraulic earth structures such as dams, dikes or levees can cause significant damage to these structures
As a conclusion of thjs statistical analysis, by distinguishing between dispersive and non-dispersive soils, we identify the main parameters for a soil analysis in relation to the surface erosion phenomenon
A Jet Erosion Test device is used in order to characterize the sensitivity to erosion of twelve fine soils which cover a large part of the Atterberg limits diagram
Summary
The interaction between water and hydraulic earth structures such as dams, dikes or levees can cause significant damage to these structures. Typical intervals range from 15 s to 30 min, with total test times of 2 hours or less (Hanson and Cook, 2004) With these data, it is possible to relate the hydraulic conditions at interface to the erosion rate at a time t. The spatial zone concerned by jet deviation is defined by the increasing of radial water velocity. By integrating equation (9) over the test duration, the erosion resistance index is built with the erosion energy (Ecros;on) and the eroded dry mass (Illdry) :. The optimal dry densities for the Proctor compaction are ranging between 1900 kg/m3 and 1378 kg/m3 and the values of optimum water content are between 10 and 24 %, A test consists in a compaction with the standard procedure and a Jet Erosion Test. The sample is let in a plastic bag for 12 hours before test
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