Abstract
This paper describes a mechanistic model developed to understand the self-healing mechanism of two types of cracks in impervious cores of earth dams; Type A core cracks which extend from the interior of the core to the downstream filter, and Type B core cracks which extend from the upstream face of the core to the downstream filter. The base soil-crack-filter system is idealized using a four-element one-dimensional continuum to consider various processes in the core and the filter. The model is numerically implemented to predict self-healing in the idealized domain. The model predictions are validated using results from experimental investigations. A parametric study conducted with the model indicates two conditions essential to foster self-healing: a nominal erosion of the base soil, and a seepage velocity in the filter that is less than its critical seepage velocity. This study suggests that the mechanism leading to different rates of self-healing is the interplay of several parameters, viz, characteristics of base soils and filters, geometrical features of cracks, hydraulic conditions, etc. Application of the one-dimensional mechanistic model to a three-dimensional field-scale scenario is demonstrated.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 890-901 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering |
Volume | 132 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2006 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
- General Environmental Science