An experimental study on embankment failure induced by prolonged immersion in floodwater  

作　　者：Yu-long Luo Cheng Zhang Min Nie Mei-li Zhan Jin-chang Sheng 

机构地区：[1]College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University

出　　处：《Water Science and Engineering》2016年第1期81-86,共6页水科学与水工程（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51009053);the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(Grant No.3014-SYS1401);the Program for Excellent Innovative Talents of Hohai University

摘　　要：Prolonged immersion in floodwater is one of the main causes of embankment failure or dam breaks, although failure mechanisms have not been extensively studied. In this study, an embankment model was constructed to investigate the influence of prolonged immersion in floodwater on the failure of an embankment. The results indicate that： （1） the phreatic surface gradually rises and negative pore pressures gradually dissipate with the time of prolonged immersion in floodwater, and, finally, a stable and fully saturated state is reached; （2） observable cracks and a heave phenomenon are found near the downstream toe and in the top stratum of the foundation, which are attributed to the large uplift pressure on the interface between the top stratum and the pervious substratum, the tremendous impact effect induced by the rapid rise in water level, and the reduction of shear strength of heavy silt loam. The present study enhances our in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms of embankment failure induced by floodwater, and provides experimental data for validation of mathematical models of the embankment seepage failure.Prolonged immersion in floodwater is one of the main causes of embankment failure or dam breaks, although failure mechanisms have not been extensively studied. In this study, an embankment model was constructed to investigate the influence of prolonged immersion in floodwater on the failure of an embankment. The results indicate that： （1） the phreatic surface gradually rises and negative pore pressures gradually dissipate with the time of prolonged immersion in floodwater, and, finally, a stable and fully saturated state is reached; （2） observable cracks and a heave phenomenon are found near the downstream toe and in the top stratum of the foundation, which are attributed to the large uplift pressure on the interface between the top stratum and the pervious substratum, the tremendous impact effect induced by the rapid rise in water level, and the reduction of shear strength of heavy silt loam. The present study enhances our in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms of embankment failure induced by floodwater, and provides experimental data for validation of mathematical models of the embankment seepage failure.

关 键 词：EMBANKMENT FLOODWATER Seepage failure Prolonged immersion Heave phenomenon 

分 类 号：TV871[水利工程—水利水电工程]