Prediction of Undrained Sinkhole Collapse
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 3
Abstract
Sinkholes are surface depressions or shafts resulting from the collapse of a submerged cavity in soil. The cavities that lead to sinkholes form as a result of underlying geology in limestone areas, or as a result of human activity such as mining or leakage from a sewer. The formation of sinkholes is often sudden and can lead to extensive damage and loss of life, especially in urban areas. Much of the literature on the subject of sinkhole formation is empirical in nature, often being associated with specific locations. This paper presents the results of a study, using numerical modeling, of the undrained stability of the submerged cavities that lead to sinkhole formation. Finite-element limit analysis techniques (using programs developed at the University of Newcastle) are used to obtain upper and lower bound values of a suitable load parameter, which bracket the exact solution. The results are compared to analytical solutions, both from literature and derived independently.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 3 • March 2003
Pages: 197 - 205
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 25, 2001
Accepted: Jun 10, 2002
Published online: Feb 14, 2003
Published in print: Mar 2003
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