Assessing the Potential of Internal Instability and Suffusion in Embankment Dams and Their Foundations
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 3
Abstract
Suffusion is the process by which finer soil particles are moved through constrictions between larger soil particles by seepage forces. Soils susceptible to suffusion are described as internally unstable. This technical note describes a method for assessing the potential of internal instability of silt-sand-gravel or clay-silt-sand-gravel soils based on their particle size distribution based on laboratory tests carried out by the writers and results published by others. It is shown that some commonly used methods are conservative for these soils.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writers wish to acknowledge the support of the Australian Research Council, and the 17 industry sponsors for research into internal erosion and piping failure of embankment dams.
References
Burenkova, V. V. (1993). “Assessment of suffusion in noncohesive and graded soils.” Proc., 1st Int. Conf. Geo-Filters, Karlsruhe, Germany, Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 357–360.
Chapuis, R. P., Constant, A., and Baass, K. A. (1996). “Migration of fines in 0-20 mm crushed base during placement, compaction, and seepage under laboratory conditions.” Can. Geotech. J., 33(1), 168–176.
Kenney, T. C., and Lau, D. (1984). “Stability of particle grading of compacted granular filters.” Publication No. 84-06, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto.
Kenney, T. C., and Lau, D. (1985). “Internal stability of granular filters.” Can. Geotech. J., 22(2), 215–225.
Kenney, T. C., and Lau, D. (1986). “Internal stability of granular filters: Reply.” Can. Geotech. J., 23(4), 420–423.
Kenney, T. C., Lau, D., and Clute, G. (1983). “Filter tests on diameter specimens of granular materials.” Publication 84-07, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto.
Kenney, T. C., Lau, D., and Clute, G. (1984). “Stability of particle gradations tests on mixtures of narrowly graded materials.” Publication No. 84-08, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Toronto, Toronto.
Lafleur, J., Mlynarek, J., and Rollin, A. L. (1989). “Filtration of broadly graded cohesionless soils.” J. Geotech. Engrg., 115(12), 1747–1768.
Sherard, J. L. (1979). “Sinkholes in dams of coarse, broadly graded soils.” Trans., Proc., 13th Congress on Large Dams, Vol. 2, New Delhi, India, 25–35.
Skempton, A. W., and Brogan, J. M. (1994). “Experiments on piping in sandy gravels.” Geotechnique, 44(3), 449–460.
Sun, B. C. B. (1989). “Internal stability of clayey to silty sands.” Dr.Phil. thesis, dissertation, Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Wan, C. F. (2006). “Experimental investigation of piping erosion and suffusion of soils in embankment dams and their foundations.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Wan, C. F., and Fell, R. (2004a). “Experimental investigation of internal instability of soils in embankment dams and their foundations.” UNICIV Rep. No. R 429, The Univ. of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Wan, C. F., and Fell, R. (2004b). “Investigation of rate of erosion of soils in embankment dams.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 130(4), 373–380.
Wan, C. F., and Fell, R. (2004c). “Laboratory tests on the rate of piping erosion of soils in embankment dams.” Geotech. Test. J., 27(3), 295–303.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 3 • March 2008
Pages: 401 - 407
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 26, 2006
Accepted: Mar 5, 2007
Published online: Mar 1, 2008
Published in print: Mar 2008
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.