Analysis of transient seepage through a river embankment by means of centrifuge modelling

Earthen river embankments are typically in unsaturated conditions during their lifetime and the degree of saturation within bodies may vary significantly throughout year, due to seasonalfluctuations stage, as well infiltrations meteoric precipitation evapotranspiration phenomena. Given significant effects partial on hydro-mechanical behaviour soils, realistic assumptions actual water content distribution inside essential forproperly modelling response hydraulic loadings. In this framework, centrifuge is a useful tool get insights into evolution retaining structure flood events. It allows for direct observation groundwater flow process, which hardly detectable at prototype scale, enabling, same time, validation calibration predictive numerical tools.In paper, results test carried out small-scale physical model compacted silty clayey sand embankment subjected simulated high-water event, enhanced gravity 50-g, presented discussed. The was carefully instrumented with potentiometers, miniaturized pore pressure transducers tensiometers. Pore pressures suctions measured experiment showed that stationary were reached only after an unrealistic hydrometric peak persistence. therefore emerges that, design and/or assessment safety similar one tested, simplified hypothesis steady-state seepage, equilibrium maximum stage expected could result, many cases, excessively conservative assumption.