Author(s): Dean A. Latray; Otto R. Stein
Linked Author(s): Otto R. Stein
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Previously published work (Stein and Julien, 1993) has shown that headcut advancement can be either self-propagating of self-degradating for a given hydraulic condition and uniform soil properties. In the present work, the condition of stratified sediments, where a relatively erosion resistant layer overlies an relatively weak layer is considered. For this case self propagation is assured and an analytic model describing the rate of headcut migration is developed. Conceptually, advancement occurs in a series of discrete steps, where the time required for each step is controlled by the rate of downstream scour and strength of the upstream soil. Results from experiments designed to calibrate the analytic model show that the time for each step is constant for specific soils and given hydraulics, so that overall advancement rate is linear with time.
Year: 1997