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Internal Erosion and Piping Evolution in Earth Dams Using an Iterative Approach
Internal erosion, also known as piping, is one of the major causes of earth dam failures. Piping occurs when flowing water transports soil particles out of the structure of the dam creating a hole within the embankment. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation almost 30% of dam failures are due to piping. Lebanon, a developing country, also has its share of dam failure. Recently, two earth dams failed in Laqlouq area, Lebanon, due to erosion causing a massive inundation. No systematic studies have been conducted to provide better insight on piping evolution/failure in Lebanon. Plaxis 2D, a commercial finite element software, was used to model one of the sustained earth dams in Laqlouq area. The aim of this study is to show the piping evolution using an iterative approach within the body of the structure. Soil properties (i.e., permeability, strength, density) were determined in the laboratory using ASTM standard methods. Disturbed soil samples were collected from the earth dam. 2D model of the dam was created and the initiation of piping was determined based on the hydraulic gradient “i” versus the critical hydraulic gradient “icr”. Piping was identified at the location where the hydraulic gradient was greater than the critical hydraulic gradient. Findings showed that the current dam is susceptible to internal erosion, triggering the formation of a pipe and failure.
Internal Erosion and Piping Evolution in Earth Dams Using an Iterative Approach
Internal erosion, also known as piping, is one of the major causes of earth dam failures. Piping occurs when flowing water transports soil particles out of the structure of the dam creating a hole within the embankment. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation almost 30% of dam failures are due to piping. Lebanon, a developing country, also has its share of dam failure. Recently, two earth dams failed in Laqlouq area, Lebanon, due to erosion causing a massive inundation. No systematic studies have been conducted to provide better insight on piping evolution/failure in Lebanon. Plaxis 2D, a commercial finite element software, was used to model one of the sustained earth dams in Laqlouq area. The aim of this study is to show the piping evolution using an iterative approach within the body of the structure. Soil properties (i.e., permeability, strength, density) were determined in the laboratory using ASTM standard methods. Disturbed soil samples were collected from the earth dam. 2D model of the dam was created and the initiation of piping was determined based on the hydraulic gradient “i” versus the critical hydraulic gradient “icr”. Piping was identified at the location where the hydraulic gradient was greater than the critical hydraulic gradient. Findings showed that the current dam is susceptible to internal erosion, triggering the formation of a pipe and failure.
Internal Erosion and Piping Evolution in Earth Dams Using an Iterative Approach
Saliba, Fadi (author) / Nassar, Ronald Bou (author) / Khoury, Naji (author) / Maalouf, Yara (author)
Eighth International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering ; 2019 ; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Geo-Congress 2019 ; 67-75
2019-03-21
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Internal Erosion and Piping Evolution in Earth Dams Using an Iterative Approach
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