INDUCED SINKHOLES: AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM

Induced sinkholes are those related to man's activities, whereas natural sinkholes are not. Induced sinkholes are divided into two types: those resulting from a decline in the water table due to ground-water withdrawals and those resulting from construction. Almost all induced sinkholes occur where cavities develop in residual or other unconsolidated deposits overlying openings in carbonate rocks. The downward migration of the deposits into underlying openings in bedrock and the formation and collapse of resulting cavities are caused or accelerated by a decline in the water table that results in: (1) Loss of buoyant support; (2) increase in the velocity of movement of water; (3) water-level fluctuations at the base of unconsolidated deposits; and (4) induced recharge. Most sinkholes resulting from construction are due to the diversion of drainage over openings in bedrock.

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• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Newton, J G
• Publication Date: 1981-6

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 175-185
• Serial:
  • Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
  • Volume: 107
  • Issue Number: IR2
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-9437
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/loi/jidedh

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Deposits (Geology); Flow; Groundwater; Sinkholes; Streamflow; Unconsolidated soils; Water; Water table
• Old TRIS Terms: Deposits; Groundwater effects; Recharge
• Subject Areas: Construction; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00334898
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ASCE 16343 Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 28 1981 12:00AM