Author(s): V. P. Singh; C. S. P. Ojha; D. D. Adrian; S. Ozkan; G. E. Sills
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Critical head; Hydraulic conductivity; Porosity; Sand boil; Seepage
Abstract: Flood-induced seepage may lead to development of piping underneath the base of levees. The piping causes cavities which may grow, resulting in sudden levee settling and failure. The flow of water in the piping, called seepage, occurs due to hydrostatic head gradient between the two sides of a levee. This flow causes migration of soil particles to the exit point of the flow path where the particles deposit and form a sand boil. The size of the sand boil reflects the integrated effect of seepage characteristics, porous medium characteristics and hydraulics of flow behind and underneath the levee. On the other hand, the development of piping has been reported to be useful to withstand the increase in head beyond critical head conditions. Thus, a levee design may be benefited by considering the geomechanics and hydraulics of piping and sand boil formation. This study makes a critical review of the existing literature and then proposes an analytical framework for determination of the significance of sand boils on levee failures. It also evaluates the effect of porous medium characteristics on the sand boil formation.
Year: 2001