Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 04024006 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 24 Jan 2024 |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 24 Jan 2024 |
Abstract
Piping erosion is a crucial trigger for dam breaches. However, the effects of inherent spatial variability on seepage properties have not been considered adequately, which could lead to a significant underestimation of the risk of piping-erosion-induced dam failure. Additionally, the complex formation mechanism of erosion pipe formation poses challenges in determining the seepage path. This study proposes a probabilistic evaluation framework which combines a hydraulic–mechanical coupling method with random finite-element analysis. Failure indicators, namely hydraulic gradient and kinetic energy, are utilized within this framework. Based on the proposed framework, the spatial variability of soil properties can be considered effectively, and three cases of dams were analyzed. The results show that the proposed framework can provide a macroscopic visualization of the erosion pipe process. In addition, this framework reveals piping erosion occurrence in approximately 40% of hydraulic samples, whereas deterministic analyses fail to detect any instances of piping erosion. This suggests that deterministic analysis considerably underestimates the risk of piping erosion in practice. The effects of the depth of antiseepage measurements on the formation process of piping erosion are discussed. The results indicate that a medium-depth cut-off wall can meet the impervious requirements and reduce the construction cost in engineering practice.
Keywords
- Dam breach, Hydraulic conductivity, Piping erosion, Seepage failure, Spatial variability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Engineering(all)
- Building and Construction
- Engineering(all)
- Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
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In: ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 2, 04024006, 01.06.2024.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Internal Piping Erosion Evaluation of Embankment Dam Considering the Spatial Variability of Soil Properties
AU - Wang, Ruohan
AU - Chen, Guan
AU - Liu, Yong
N1 - Funding Information: This research is supported by the National Natural Science foundation of China (Grant No. 52079099) and the International Joint Research Platform Seed Fund Program of Wuhan University (Grant No. WHUZZJJ202207). Ruohan Wang has received financial support from the China Scholarship Council (CSC). Guan Chen is grateful for the financial support of the Sino-German (CSCDAAD) Postdoc Scholarship Program.
PY - 2024/1/24
Y1 - 2024/1/24
N2 - Piping erosion is a crucial trigger for dam breaches. However, the effects of inherent spatial variability on seepage properties have not been considered adequately, which could lead to a significant underestimation of the risk of piping-erosion-induced dam failure. Additionally, the complex formation mechanism of erosion pipe formation poses challenges in determining the seepage path. This study proposes a probabilistic evaluation framework which combines a hydraulic–mechanical coupling method with random finite-element analysis. Failure indicators, namely hydraulic gradient and kinetic energy, are utilized within this framework. Based on the proposed framework, the spatial variability of soil properties can be considered effectively, and three cases of dams were analyzed. The results show that the proposed framework can provide a macroscopic visualization of the erosion pipe process. In addition, this framework reveals piping erosion occurrence in approximately 40% of hydraulic samples, whereas deterministic analyses fail to detect any instances of piping erosion. This suggests that deterministic analysis considerably underestimates the risk of piping erosion in practice. The effects of the depth of antiseepage measurements on the formation process of piping erosion are discussed. The results indicate that a medium-depth cut-off wall can meet the impervious requirements and reduce the construction cost in engineering practice.
AB - Piping erosion is a crucial trigger for dam breaches. However, the effects of inherent spatial variability on seepage properties have not been considered adequately, which could lead to a significant underestimation of the risk of piping-erosion-induced dam failure. Additionally, the complex formation mechanism of erosion pipe formation poses challenges in determining the seepage path. This study proposes a probabilistic evaluation framework which combines a hydraulic–mechanical coupling method with random finite-element analysis. Failure indicators, namely hydraulic gradient and kinetic energy, are utilized within this framework. Based on the proposed framework, the spatial variability of soil properties can be considered effectively, and three cases of dams were analyzed. The results show that the proposed framework can provide a macroscopic visualization of the erosion pipe process. In addition, this framework reveals piping erosion occurrence in approximately 40% of hydraulic samples, whereas deterministic analyses fail to detect any instances of piping erosion. This suggests that deterministic analysis considerably underestimates the risk of piping erosion in practice. The effects of the depth of antiseepage measurements on the formation process of piping erosion are discussed. The results indicate that a medium-depth cut-off wall can meet the impervious requirements and reduce the construction cost in engineering practice.
KW - Dam breach
KW - Hydraulic conductivity
KW - Piping erosion
KW - Seepage failure
KW - Spatial variability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85183325409&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1061/AJRUA6.RUENG-1218
DO - 10.1061/AJRUA6.RUENG-1218
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85183325409
VL - 10
JO - ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering
JF - ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering
SN - 2376-7642
IS - 2
M1 - 04024006
ER -