Centrifuge model for uplift and heave in clay layers
Centrifuge model for uplift and heave in clay layers
Flood protection structures, like dikes or levees, are crucial for coastal and deltaic regions around the world. These structures often stand over a low-permeable foundation layer that spans from the water body up to tens of meters into the protected land, sustaining the structure's weight and preventing seepage flow to emerge. Uplift and heave are among the failure mechanisms that could compromise the effectiveness of the flood protection structure. In this work, the goal is to describe the driving mechanisms for uplift and heave to develop in a clay layer, when subjected to upward flow in a centrifuge model. We vary the clay layer thickness, while exploring the layer response under different acceleration levels by means of pore-pressure measurements and digital image analysis. We identify the transition from the layer bending to the appearance of surface cracks that facilitate seepage flow. The observations gained from these experiments help in shedding light on the limiting conditions for foundation layers under extreme loading and link them with the structures stability.
L. V. Cote; Britt Wittekoek; Cor Zwanenburg; Miguel Angel Cabrera
5th European Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ECPMG2024)
Geotechnical infrastructure
https://doi.org/10.53243/ECPMG2024-53
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