One dimensional permeability experiment on masado focusing on suffusion of fine grain

The internal erosion is one of the important causes affecting safety of an old embankment for reservoir. There is a possibility that fine soil particles are transported and eventually flowed out of embankment due to the internal erosion caused by seepage flow. However, the mechanism of internal erosion and its effect on instability of embankment remain unexplained. In this study, a model ground with different fine content and relative density was produced inside a cylindrical column, and a one-dimensional seepage flow was simulated in order to clarify the specific condition when the suffusion can occur. Furthermore, this study tried to consider the transportation of soil particles in the column in the relation etween the outflow time, the amount and the size of the passing soil particles. As a result, the difference in degree of erosion was confirmed by the fine content and the relative density.

Internal Erosion

Seepage

Suffusion