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Hydro-mechanical coupling experiments on suffusion in sandy gravel foundations containing a partially penetrating cut-off wall

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Abstract

The influence of the stress state on the evolution of suffusion failure is often neglected in the design of sandy gravel foundations containing a partially penetrating cut-off wall. A series of hydro-mechanical coupling experiments on such structures was carried out to investigate the influence using a newly designed apparatus. The results indicate that: (1) The stress state has a significant influence on the evolution of suffusion, which increases the critical suffusion hydraulic gradient dramatically. (2) The critical suffusion hydraulic gradient is linearly related to the confining pressure and to the penetration ratio, and a simple interpolation function for the critical hydraulic gradient was fitted based on the experimental results. (3) The eroded mass in the development of suffusion is nonuniform and intermittent. The evolution of suffusion is a complicated and iterative process involving fine particle migration, pores being clogged, flushing out of the clogged pores, and fine particle remigration. (4) Flow along the interface of sandy gravel and cut-off wall conforms to the piecewise-linear Darcy flow rule. The results will enhance the understanding of the influence of the stress state on the suffusion failure in sandy gravel foundations containing partially penetrating cut-off walls.

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Acknowledgments

The supports of Natural Science Foundation of China under project No. 51009053, Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20100094120004) and the Special Funds of China Central Colleges Basic Scientific Research Operating Expenses (No. 2009B01914) are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Yu-long Luo, Qiang Wu, Mei-li Zhan & Jin-chang Sheng

  2. College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Yuan Wang

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  1. Yu-long Luo
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  2. Qiang Wu
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  3. Mei-li Zhan
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  4. Jin-chang Sheng
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  5. Yuan Wang
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Correspondence to Yu-long Luo.

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Luo, Yl., Wu, Q., Zhan, Ml. et al. Hydro-mechanical coupling experiments on suffusion in sandy gravel foundations containing a partially penetrating cut-off wall. Nat Hazards 67, 659–674 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0596-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0596-z

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