Experience to determine critical hydraulic gradient of soil

Abstract

   Suffusion is a phenomenon in which fine particles are eroded away through the pores between coarse particles by seepage flow. Suffusion occurs when the pores between coarse particles are large enough for smaller particles to move and the hydraulic gradient of seapage flow exceeds the critical gradient,
causing displacement of the soil particles. Meanwhile, during the suffusion, there are dramatic changes in soil porosity, hydraulic conductivity and mechanical properties. Although suffusion is such a huge potential risk for the earth structure safety, hitherto, few laboratory tests have been fully developed in
our country to determine critical hydraulic gradient to thereby assessing the possibility of suffusion. This study introduces experimental equipment improved from the triaxial compression equipment and experimental procedure that allows to evaluate the possibility of suffusion as well as to determine the
critical hydraulic gradient of the soil. This device can be tested in different stress states