Seepage erosion - an improved technique for soils evaluation in till-core dams

由于地下水渗漏，某些类型的土壤会经历内部不稳定或侵蚀。我们可以将土壤分类为潜在不稳定土壤，通过将其与理想土壤曲线进行比较，理想土壤曲线被认为定义了稳定土壤和潜在不稳定土壤之间的边界。然而，我们目前无法确定发生潜在不稳定的临界渗流条件。要有信心地做到这一点，就需要一个专门实验室测试结果的数据库，一个配套的理论解释，以及与实地观察的相关性。本提案的目的是扩展UBC最近的一系列实验室实验，创建一个精选的测试结果数据库，并用它来开发和验证从科学文献中发表的一个想法的理论解释。我们预计这将产生一种评估潜在侵蚀性土壤内部不稳定性的先进技术。这项技术的直接应用将是土坝的设计、操作、性能监测、维护和安全评价，例如用于水力发电的土坝。

Some types of soils experience internal instability, or erosion, as a result of groundwater seepage.  We can classify a soil as potentially unstable, by comparing it to an idealized soil curve that is believed to define the boundary between stable and potentially unstable soils.  However, we are currently unable to establish the critical seepage condition at which the onset of that potential instability occurs.  To do so with confidence would require a database of specialized laboratory test results, a companion theoretical explanation, and a correlation to field observations.  The intent of this proposal is to expand upon a series of recent laboratory experiments at UBC, to create a select database of test results, and use it develop and verify a theoretical explanation from an idea published in the scientific literature.  We anticipate this will yield an advanced technique for evaluation of internal instability in potentially erosive soils.  An immediate application of the technique would be to the design, operation, performance monitoring, maintenance and safety evaluation of earth dams, such as those used for generation of hydroelectricity.