CHARACTERISTICS OF SINKHOLE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR POTENTIAL CAVITY COLLAPSE

The results of investigations conducted in the karstic coastal plain of Florida indicate that the potential for cavity collapse is significantly greater in topographic lows where existing sinkholes, depressions, and other surficial features are lineated. Fracture traces and these lineaments can be established by interpretation of aerial photographs. In one case study it was found that almost all recent sinkholes occurred in the vicinity of the intersection of lineaments. A high vertical permeability to promote solution of carbonates and to induce piping of overburdened soils seems typical of many cavity and sinkhole systems. Collapse of overburden into cavities generally appears to be triggered by depression of the water table followed by wet surface conditions (e.g., well pumping and irrigation). Details of these investigations are presented with some emphasis on the lack of definitive geophysical and remote sensing methods for cavity detection. Several examples are presented to illustrate the difficulty in detecting subsurface cavities in conventional foundation investigations and in the analysis of the in situ conditions triggering the collapse. The subsidence of a portion of Interstate highway is discussed in relation to the observed in situ conditions.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/978/978-002.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=CHARACTERISTICS+OF+SINKHOLE+DEVELOPMENT+AND+IMPLICATIONS+FOR+POTENTIAL+CAVITY+COLLAPSE&author=B.+Ruth&author=J.+Degner&publication_year=1984
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Exploration and Classification of Earth Materials. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Ruth, Byron E
  • Degner, Janet D
• Conference:
  • 63rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1984-1-16 to 1984-1-20
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 5-12
• Monograph Title: Construction and difficult geology: karstic limestone, permafrost, wetlands, and peat deposits
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 978
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carbonates; Cavitation; Collapse; Karst; Overburdens; Permeability; Sinkholes
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00396849
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309037603
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 31 1986 12:00AM