Laboratory Study of Vertical and Inclined Sheet Pile Effects on Seepage Control and Sand Boiling Phenomenon through Alluvial Foundation of Hydraulic Structures

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.A. student in Geotechnics, Yasuj University, Yasuj

2 Assistant Professor of Soil Science, Agricultural College, Yasouj University; Yasouj

3 Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yasouj University; Yasouj

Abstract

So far, for an analysis of seepage under hydraulic structures much research has been
conducted in the form of numerical models. However, few field and laboratory works
have been performed to study the boiling phenomena for evaluating numerical models.
Throughout the present work, a laboratory model was built to simulate seepage and its
controlling measures under sheet piles. The model consisted of a 2.2 m long, 0.8 m deep
and 0.4 m wide flume, in which vertical sheet piles were provided by Perspex sheets. The
flume was made up of a steel frame, Perspex as well as thick glass sheets. The effect of
position and depth of the sheet pile on the seepage flow, exit gradient and uplift pressure
have been demonstrated in the form of dimensionless curves. The results indicate that the
ratios d/D=0.44 and d/D=0.34 with a maximum upstream water level of h/hm=1.0 form
the best possible depths, for both vertical and inclined sheet piles in the depth of the
foundation sheet pile. In other words, inclined sheet piles are much more effective in
reducing and controlling seepage, uplift pressure and hydraulic gradient than the vertical
ones.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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