Temporal evolution of backward erosion piping in small-scale experiments

Abstract Backward erosion piping (BEP) is a form of internal which can lead to failure levees and dams. Most research focused on the critical head difference at occurs. Two aspects have received less attention, namely (1) temporal evolution (2) local hydraulic conditions in pipe tip. We present small-scale experiments with pressure measurements during equilibrium progression for different sands degrees loading. The confirm positive relation between rate grain size as well degree overloading. Furthermore, analysis shows that BEP be better explained by bed shear stress sediment transport than seepage velocity show how processes contribute process these insights provide first empirical basis modeling development using coupled seepage-sediment equations.