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On the effect of compaction on the progression of concentrated leaks in cohesive soils

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to conduct hole erosion tests (HETs) to better understand the progression of concentrated leaks in compacted soils. While samples with high levels of compaction have been extensively tested for their erosion characteristics in the literature, soils at lower compaction levels have not yet been extensively assessed. This study aims to better understand the internal erosion behaviours of low-compacted soils during the progression of concentrated leaks. To this end, compaction tests are performed on various mixtures of Sydney sand and kaolin clay samples at different compaction moisture contents (i.e. moisture content at the time of compaction) and compaction efforts. Optimum moisture contents for different compaction efforts are subsequently determined. Samples for the HET are then prepared at various compaction densities and moisture contents to obtain their rate of erosion due to concentrated leaks. Results from testing show that if appropriate moisture contents are used, low-compacted samples do not necessarily show higher erodibility potential. The results can help in the determination of the most cost-effective, yet stable, materials for use in practice, for example in the core of embankment dams.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the anonymous reviewers for their very constructive comments that have greatly improved our work. The second author acknowledges the financial support received from the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran for his visit to the University of New South Wales from February 2018 to July 2018.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Arman Khoshghalb & Joshua Stockton

  2. Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran

    Mohammad Nobarinia & Farhoud Kalateh

Authors
  1. Arman Khoshghalb
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  2. Mohammad Nobarinia
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  3. Joshua Stockton
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  4. Farhoud Kalateh
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Correspondence to Arman Khoshghalb.

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Appendix

Appendix

The results, in terms of erosion rate versus shear stress, of round 1 and round 2 of the HETs performed on each soil mixture are presented in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

Fig. 6
figure 6

Comparison between the results of the round 1 and round 2 testing on clay 30%–sand 70% soil mixture at various compaction levels: a 13 blows; b 17 blows; c 21 blows; and d 25 blows

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Fig. 7
figure 7

Comparison between the results of the round 1 and round 2 testing on clay 50%–sand 50% soil mixture at various compaction levels: a 13 blows; b 17 blows; c 21 blows; and d 25 blows

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Fig. 8
figure 8

Comparison between the results of the round 1 and round 2 testing on clay 70%–sand 30% soil mixture at various compaction levels: a 13 blows; b 17 blows; c 21 blows; and d 25 blows

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Khoshghalb, A., Nobarinia, M., Stockton, J. et al. On the effect of compaction on the progression of concentrated leaks in cohesive soils. Acta Geotech. 16, 1635–1645 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01029-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01029-0

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