A preliminary study on the piping erosion of soils using glucose dissolution method

Piping erosion-induced earthen structure failures can cause catastrophic consequences and great economic loss. Experimental laboratory simulation of piping plays a key role for the study of eroded soils. Up till now, piping erosion has been simulated in different ways, such as artificial slot or drilled hole. This paper is a continuation of such efforts and presents a new method of reproducing piping erosion by dissolution of preinstalled glucose column inside the tested material. The proposed method was examined through a series of triaxial compression tests under different densities and confining pressures, aiming to identify the association between stiffness loss and particle dissolution during piping erosion. With the help of local sensors, volumetric strains during piping propagation and small strain stiffness of soil at post-erosion state were obtained. Results showed significant degradation of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio in soil subjected to piping erosion, while the overall shear strength of the disturbed specimens appeared to be less affected.