Abstract
A new experimental apparatus has been devised to initiate deformation within a confined aquifer. Multi-layer sequences have been produced in awater tank by alternate settling of gravel, sand and silt (Fig. 5). A sand layer enclosed between silt layers represents a confined aquifer. The model stratified sequence was shocked by vibration, causing deformation. The experimental results indicate that internal erosion and fragmentation of the silt layer took place in a confined aquifer. During vibration volcano-like eruption often occurred from the culmination of deformed sediment. Such phenomena are explained in terms of fluidization behaviour of confined, water-saturated, unconsolidated sand layers.
