Key research themes
1. How does seepage flow direction and hydraulic gradient influence the initiation and progression of internal erosion in soils?
This research theme focuses on investigating the effects of seepage flow characteristics, including flow direction, angle relative to gravity, and hydraulic gradient, on the mechanisms underlying the initiation, development, and continuation of internal erosion in soils. Understanding these effects is critical for predicting internal erosion in engineering structures such as earth dams and tunnels, where flow conditions vary spatially, thus affecting soil stability and erosion susceptibility.
2. What are the effects of internal erosion-induced fines migration on the post-erosion mechanical behavior and stability of soils?
This theme examines how internal erosion processes, primarily fines migration (suffusion and suffosion), alter soil microstructure and particle size distribution, and consequently affect mechanical properties such as shear strength, stiffness, liquefaction potential, and cyclic resistance. Given the impact of eroded fine content on load-bearing behavior and deformation characteristics, this understanding is pivotal for assessing soil stability in earth structures exposed to erosion.
3. How can soil stabilization methods mitigate internal erosion in cohesionless soils, and what are the effects of stabilizers on erosion resistance parameters?
This theme explores laboratory-based investigations assessing the efficacy of chemical stabilization, particularly using quicklime, to enhance erosion resistance of cohesionless soils prone to internal erosion. It emphasizes effects of stabilizers on critical shear stress, erosion rates, curing time dependency, and post-treatment mechanical properties, contributing to practical engineering methods for safeguarding earth structures against internal erosion.