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.
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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
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© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 26, 2006
Accepted: Mar 5, 2007
Published online: Mar 1, 2008
Published in print: Mar 2008
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