Piping erosion, and debris flow travel distance

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Groundwater seepage can lead to internal erosion of the finer grains of a soil skeleton. If it continues unchecked, the internal erosion will result in a significant loss of fines. This can affect the strength of the soil, leaving it weaker and, occasionally, susceptible to a localised collapse. The phenomenon occurs naturally in some hillslope soils. Earth dams, built from compacted hillslope soils, have also been found susceptible to internal erosion. The performance of large dams is routinely monitored, to ensure their safety. A proper understanding of the potential for internal erosion, in soils that are deemed susceptible, complements the monitoring and operation of earth dams, over their long service life. It assists engineers in interpreting the performance data with complete confidence, and allocate maintenance budgets accordingly. The proposed research examines the fundamentals of internal erosion, and the linkage to loss of soil strength.