Suffusion prediction model based on physical parameters for gap-graded and well-graded soils

Abstract

Suffusion is one of the four types of internal erosion and accounts for 46% of erosion phenomena in earth dams. Suffusion is an erosion of fine particles inside the soil structure that move out of the voids between coarse particles caused by permeability flow. Identification of internal erosion is necessary to mitigate the loss of humans and property as underground erosion occurs. However, determining suffusion susceptibility in situ is complex and takes a lot of time. This study proposed a fine-grained erosion prediction model based on physical parameters related to the grading curve and the dry density. Using the principal component analysis (PCA) tool evaluated the influence of these parameters on suffusion. The proposed predictive model of the erosion resistance index (ERI) supports stakeholders in quickly determining the extent of erosion and then taking appropriate measures to maintain the earth dams.

Keywords

• erosion resistance index
• well-graded soil
• gap-graded soil
• prediction model
• suffusion