Properties of interfaces (PCI-1.2)
Problematic
In case of a sudden rise of waer level in the reservoir, water may surpass the level of the core, creating water seepage conditions at the interface between the core and the filter zone and even the filter/transition zone interface. The problem of overtopping core deals with preferential seepag at higher speed in the filter zone, which has greater permeability than the core material. At the interface, tear-out forces caused by rapid water seepage may loosen small particles that will migrate into the filter. Under extreme conditions, this contact erosion may lead to the formation of erosin channels at the top of the core and ultimatly the rupture of the dam crest.
Th main objective of that project is to establish the necessary conditions to initiate contact erosion of particles at the interface of a low permeability material and a second material with 10 to 100 times greater permeability. The project requires developing a labarotory setup to study contact erosion between two material subjected to different seepage gradients.
Subprojects:
-Study of the interface between core and filter (MSc8)
-Study of the interface between filter and transition (MSc9)