Abstract
Internal erosion has long been a major problem associated with earthen structures, and its field investigation has been limited because of its complexity. Laboratory experiments provide a potential insight into the induced processes. Soils suitable to suffusion involve an easy movement of fine particles between the coarse ones. In this study, suffusion experiments were performed on a laboratory column packed with different sand–fines mixtures and subjected to controlled flow conditions. The mixtures are made of Fontainebleau sand (NE34) and fines (kaolinite or illite or silt). The initiation and the progression of soil suffusion were investigated for soil mixtures, and the hydraulic conductivity variation was derived from pressure measurements. Attempts are made to assess the influence of the type and content of fine particles on mixtures suffusion. The results show that among the tested fine particles, illite exhibits a great resistance against suffusion. Fine content increase involves less suitability to suffusion till a threshold value. Recorded pressures indicate that detachment of fines may be followed by clogging in the soil matrix, leading to a decrease of hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, analytical solutions of simplified mathematical model based on the mass conservation of eroded particles (Govindaraju et al., J Hydrol 172:331–350, 1995) were used to simulate the recorded soil suffusion curves, and the model performance was evaluated. Comparisons between numerical and experimental results indicated a quite good agreement, and allowed the estimation of the model parameters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abramowitz, M., Stegun, I.: Handbook of Mathematical Functions. Dover, New York (1972)
Ahfir, N.D., Benamar, A., Alem, A., Wang, H.Q.: Influence of internal structure and medium length on transport and deposition of suspended particles: a laboratory study. Transp. Porous Media 76, 289–307 (2009)
Boyce, W., DiPrima, R.: Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems. Wiley, New York (2001)
Briaud, J., Ting, F., Chen, H., Cao, Y., Han, F.W., Kwak, K.: Erosion function apparatus for scour rate predictions. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 127(2), 105–113 (2001)
Gaucher, G., Marche, C., Mahdi, T.: Experimental investigation of the hydraulic erosion of noncohesive compacted soils. J. Hydraulic Eng. 136(11), 901–913 (2010)
Govindaraju, R., Reddi, L., Kasavaraju, S.: A physical based model for mobilisation of kaolinite particles under hydraulic gradient. J. Hydrol. 172, 331–350 (1995)
Kaoser, S., Barrington, S., Elecktorowicz, M., Ayadat, T.: The influence of hydraulic gradient and rate of erosion on hydraulic conductivity of sand–bentonite mixtures. Soil Sediment Contam. 15, 481–496 (2006)
Kenney, T., Chahal, R., Chiu, E., Ofoegbu, G., Omange, G., Ume, C.: Controlling constriction sizes of granular filters. Can. Geotech. J. 22(1), 32–43 (1985)
Khilar, K.: Model for piping-plugging in earthen structures. ASCE J. Geotech. Eng. Div. 111(7), 833–847 (1985)
Lefebvre, G., Rohan, K., Douville, S.: Erosivity of natural intact structured clay: evaluation. Can. Geotech. J. 22, 508–517 (1985)
Locke, M., Indraratna, B.P.C., Adikari, G.: Embankment dam rehabilitation. In: ANCOLD 2000 Conference on Dams (2000)
Marot, D., Bendahmane, F., Rosquoet, F., Alexis, A.: Internal flow effects on isotropic confined sand-clay mixtures. Soil Sediment Contam. 18, 294–306 (2009)
Parker, D., Michel, T., Smith, J.: Compaction and water velocity effects on soil erosion in shallow flow. J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 121(2), 170–178 (1995)
Pham, T.: Erosion et dispersion des sols argileux par un fluide. PhD thesis, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris, France (2008)
Press, W., Teukolsky, S., Vetterling, W., Flannery, B.: Numerical Recipes. The Art of Scientific Computing. Cambridge University Press, New York (2007)
Reddi, L.N., Lee, I.M., Bonala, M.V.: Comparison of internal and surface erosion using flow pump tests on a sand-kaolinite mixture. Geotechn. Test. J. 23(1), 116–122 (2000)
Sherard, J.: Sinkholes in dams of coarse, broadly graded soils. In: 13th International Congress on Large Dams, International Commission on Large Dams, Paris, vol. Q49, R2, pp. 25–35 (1979)
Sherard, J., Dunnigan, L.: Critical filters for impervious soils. Can. Geotech. J. 115(7), 927–947 (1989)
Vardoulakis, I., Stavropoulou, M., Papanastasiou, P.: Hydro-mechanical aspects of the sand production problem. Transp. Porous Media 22, 225–244 (1996)
Vardoulakis, I., Papanastasiou, R., Stavropoulou, M.: Sand erosion in axial flow condition. Transp. Porous Media 45, 267–281 (2001)
Wan, C., Fell, R.: Investigation of rate of erosion of soils in embankment dams. J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 30(4), 373–380 (2004a)
Wan, C., Fell, R.: Laboratory tests on the rate of piping erosion of soils in embankments dams. Geotech. Test. J. 27(3), 295–303 (2004b)
Acknowledgments
This work was conducted in the framework of a post-doctoral position research supported by “Région Haute Normandie” at Université du Havre, France.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Seghir, A., Benamar, A. & Wang, H. Effects of Fine Particles on the Suffusion of Cohesionless Soils. Experiments and Modeling. Transp Porous Med 103, 233–247 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-014-0299-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-014-0299-2