SEEPAGE-INDUCED SLOPE FAILURES ON SANDBARS IN GRAND CANYON

Of significant concern to dam operators, environmentalists, and the public is the effect of fluctuating discharge from Glen Canyon Dam on downstream sandbars. The authors present observations of seepage-related erosion caused by fluctuation in dam discharge. A finite-element model based on Biot's coupled stress-pore water pressure theory is used to investigate seepage-induced slope failures of sandbars in the Grand Canyon. In addition, a simple model based on seepage parallel to slope in an infinite, homogeneous, cohesionless soil was used to determine the limiting stable seepage slope. The authors show that this limiting stable seepage slope becomes a predefined failure plane. Sand deposited above this stable seepage slope will eventually fail along the predefined plane from gravitational forces, high pore-water pressure, and seepage forces. Predictions from the simple model, the finite-element model, and conventional slope-stability analyses are compared with field data from an instrumented sandbar in the Grand Canyon subjected to the fluctuating discharge from Glen Canyon Dam.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339410
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Budhu, M
  • Gobin, R
• Publication Date: 1995-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 601-609
• Serial:
  • Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
  • Volume: 121
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9410

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Erosion; Failure; Finite element method; Flow; Granular soils; Hydrologic phenomena; Mathematical models; Pore water pressures; Seepage; Slope failure; Slope stability
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models
• Geographic Terms: Grand Canyon
• Old TRIS Terms: Failure plane; Fluctuation; Sandbars
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00681590
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 28 1995 12:00AM