An Integrated Experimental and Statistical Approach for Predicting the Progression of Internal Instability in Gap-Graded Granular Soils

Seepage through the earthen structures, such as dams, erodes the fine particles in the soil. This phenomenon, known as suffusion, degrades the hydraulic and mechanical performance of these structures, causing catastrophic failures. This study employs a novel integration of experimental, numerical, and statistical approaches to investigate the initiation and progression of suffusion. Moreover, the micro-scale effects of the migrating fines are estimated using X-ray CT scanning and numerical simulations. The final model indirectly estimates the probability of the suffusion progression using critical parameters like hydraulic conductivity of the soil, which can be readily measured in the lab.