Experimental study on suffusion under multiple seepages and its impact on undrained mechanical responses of gap-graded soil

An experimental investigation of multiple seepage-induced suffusion and its impact on the mechanical responses of internally unstable gap-graded soil, with a fines content of 25%, is presented in this paper. Using a modified triaxial erosion apparatus, with a redesigned seepage control system, erosion tests under multiple seepage conditions, as well as undrained monotonic and cyclic compression tests, are performed. It is found that multiple seepages cause an eroded mass without a marked change in volume and with a change in hydraulic conductivity as the number of seepage cycles increases. The monotonic compression tests show that eroded soil presents a smaller peak strength, residual strength, and a greater contractive response than non-eroded soil. The peak strength and stiffness of eroded soil are seen to decrease considerably as the number of seepage cycles increases. Multiple seepage-induced suffusion may create a collapsible soil structure in eroded soil, as shown by sudden decreases in deviator stress and stiffness, coupled by sharp increases in pore water pressure at small strain levels. As eroded soil might already be unstable, cyclic loading causes it to collapse, revealing a sudden increase in the generation of cyclic pore water pressure and a decrease in liquefaction resistance. The results highlight the importance of conducting laboratory tests to determine the impact of internal erosion on the strength and liquefaction resistance.