Abstract
Cut-off walls have been widely used to control seepage in dams and their foundations for over 100 years. The soil at the bottom of a cut-off wall is usually under complex stress and composed of various particles with different contents. In this study, the effects of the stress state and grain composition on the evolution of internal erosion were investigated in sandy gravel foundations containing a suspended cut-off wall. The following observations were made based on the experimental results: (1) The fine-particle content of the soil sample considerably influences the evolution of internal erosion. For high fine-particle content, particles are likely to clog under the downward flow; however, for low fine-particle content, the downward flow assists the migration of fine particles. (2) Deviatoric stress considerably influences the soil structure. The soil sample is compressed under low deviatoric stress; however, it undergoes dilatancy under high deviatoric stress. (3) Dilatant behavior is also controlled by confining stress. The higher the confining stress, the higher is the deviatoric stress applied on the soil sample, which produces dilatancy, and the smaller is the volumetric expansion. The obtained results will enhance the understanding of the progression mechanism of internal erosion around suspended cut-off walls.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benmebarek, N., Benmebarek, S., and Kastner, R. (2005). “Numerical studies of seepage failure of sand within a cofferdam.” Computers and Geotechnics, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 264–273, DOI: 10.1016/ j.compgeo.2005.03.001.
Bruce, D. A., Di Ce rvia, A. R., and Amos-Venti J. (2006). “Seepage remediation by positive cut-off walls: A compendium and analysis of North American case histories.” Canadian Dam Association Conference, Québec City, Québec, September 30–October 5, pp. 10–14.
Bruce, D. A. and Stefani, S. (1996). “Rehabilitation of beaver dam: A major seepage cut-off wall.” Ground Engineering, Vol. 29, No. 5, pp. 40–45.
Cermak, J. and Law, M. (2011). “Cut-off performance of a soil-cementbentonite wall.” Proceedings of 14th Pan-American Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Toronto, Canada.
Cermak, J., Evans, J., and Tamaro, G. J. (2012). “Evaluation of soilcement-bentonite wall performance–effects of backfill shrinkage.” Proceedings of DFI’s 4th International Conference on Grouting and Deep Mixing, New Orleans, pp. 502–511.
Chakraborty, T. and Salgado, R. (2010). “Dilatancy and shear strength of sand at low confining pressures.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 136, No. 3, pp. 527–532. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000237.
Cinicioglu, O. and Abadkon, A. (2014). “Dilatancy and friction angles based on in situ soil conditions.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 141, No. 4, pp. 06014019, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001272.
Cinicioglu, O., Znidarcic, D., and Ko, H. Y. (2007). “New structurebased model for estimating undrained shear strength.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 133, No. 10, pp. 1290–1301. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2007)133:10(1290).
Desrues, J. and Viggiani, G. (2004). “Strain localization in sand: An overview of the experimental results obtained in Grenoble using stereophotogrammetry.” International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 279–321. DOI: 10.1002/nag.338.
Foster, M., Fell, R., and Spannagle, M. (2000). “The statistics of embankment dam failures and accidents.” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 1000–1024. DOI: 10.1139/cgj-37-5-1000.
Luo, Y. L., Wu, Q., Zhan, M. L., Sheng, J. C., and Wang, Y. (2013a). “Hydro-mechanical coupling experiments on suffusion in sandy gravel foundations containing a partially penetrating cut-off wall.” Natural Hazards, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 659–674. DOI: 10.1007/ s11069-013-0596-z.
Luo, Y. L., Zhan, M. L., Sheng, J. C., and Wu, Q. (2013b). “Hydromechanical coupling mechanism on joint of clay core-wall and concrete cut-off wall.” Journal of Central South University, Vol. 20, No. 9, pp. 2578–2585. DOI: 10.1007/s11771-013-1771-9.
Rice, J. D. and Duncan, J. M. (2010a). “Findings of case histories on the long-term performance of seepage barriers in dams.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 136, No. 1, pp. 2–15. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000175.
Rice, J. D., and Duncan J. M. (2010b). “Deformation and cracking of seepage barriers in dams due to changes in the pore pressure regime.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 136, No. 1, pp. 16–25. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000241.
Skempton, A. W. and Brogan, J. M. (1994). “Experiments on piping in sandy gravels.” Geotechnique, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 449–460. DOI: 10.1680/geot.1994.44.3.449.
Stephens, I. (2009). The behavior of flow through cracks in concrete seepage barriers, Logan, Utah State University.
Terzaghi, K. (1943). Theoretical soil mechanics, Wiley, New York, pp. 257–261.
Uromeihy, A. and Barzegari, G. (2007). “Evaluation and treatment of seepage problems at Chapar-Abad Dam, Iran.” Engineering Geology, Vol. 91, No. 2, pp. 219–228. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2007.01.012.
Uromeihy, A. and Farrokhi, R. (2012). “Evaluating groutability at the Kamal-Saleh Dam based on Lugeon tests.” Bulletin of Engineering Geology and Environment, Vol. 71, No. 2, pp. 215–219. DOI: 10.1007/ s10064-011-0382-7.
Van Leuven, R. G. and Rice, J. D. (2011). “Assessing the potential for seepage barrier defects to propagate into seepage erosion mechanisms.” 31st Annual USSD Conference: 21st Century Dam Design-Advances and Adaptations, San Diego, California.
Wang, D. Y., Fu, X. D., Jie, Y. X., Dong, W. J., and Hu, D. (2014). “Simulation of pipe progression in a levee foundation with coupled seepage and pipe flow domains.” Soils and Foundations, Vol. 54, No. 5, pp. 974–984. DOI: 10.1016/j.sandf.2014.09.003.
Wang, J. J., Zhang, H. P., Zhang, L., and Liang, Y. (2013). “Experimental study on self-healing of crack in clay seepage barrier.” Engineering Geology, Vol. 159, pp. 31–35. DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.03.018.
Wang, S., Chen, J. S., Luo, Y. L., and Sheng, J. C. (2014). “Experiments on internal erosion in sandy gravel foundations containing a suspended cutoff wall under complex stress states.” Natural Hazards, Vol. 74, No. 2, pp. 1163–1178. DOI: 10.1007/s11069-014-1243-z.
Weaver, K. and Bruce, D. A. (2007). Dam foundation grouting, Revised and Expanded Edition, ASCE Press, New York.
Whitmer, J. (2009). Interaction of soil and seepage barrier cracks under seepage flow, Logan, Utah State University.
Wudtke, R. B. (2008). “Failure mechanisms of hydraulic heave at excavation.” 19th European Young Geotechnical Engineers’ Conference, Gyor, Hungary.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, S., Chen, J., Sheng, J. et al. Laboratory investigation of stress state and grain composition affecting internal erosion in soils containing a suspended cut-off wall. KSCE J Civ Eng 20, 1283–1293 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-015-0719-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-015-0719-z