Mechanistic Model for Self-Healing of Core Cracks in Earth Dams
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VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 7
Abstract
This paper describes a mechanistic model developed to understand the self-healing mechanism of two types of cracks in impervious cores of earth dams; Type A core cracks which extend from the interior of the core to the downstream filter, and Type B core cracks which extend from the upstream face of the core to the downstream filter. The base soil-crack-filter system is idealized using a four-element one-dimensional continuum to consider various processes in the core and the filter. The model is numerically implemented to predict self-healing in the idealized domain. The model predictions are validated using results from experimental investigations. A parametric study conducted with the model indicates two conditions essential to foster self-healing: a nominal erosion of the base soil, and a seepage velocity in the filter that is less than its critical seepage velocity. This study suggests that the mechanism leading to different rates of self-healing is the interplay of several parameters, viz, characteristics of base soils and filters, geometrical features of cracks, hydraulic conditions, etc. Application of the one-dimensional mechanistic model to a three-dimensional field-scale scenario is demonstrated.
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Acknowledgments
The work reported in this paper was funded partly by the Agricultural Experiment Station at Kansas State University (Contribution No. 04-276-J) and partly by the Department of Civil Engineering at Kansas State University. Financial support from these agencies is gratefully acknowledged. The first writer is also thankful to Central Soil & Materials Research Station, New Delhi (Government of India) for granting him leave to pursue research.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 7 • July 2006
Pages: 890 - 901
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 17, 2004
Accepted: Jan 4, 2006
Published online: Jul 1, 2006
Published in print: Jul 2006
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