GROUND DETERIORATION DUE TO PORE AIR PRESSURE INCREASE IN SOIL

Abstract

Local failure was modelled using a dry soil system with a rising water table overlain by wet soil after a rainfall event. Water was infiltrated through the dry soil and the simultaneous change in water inflow, vertical displacement and entrapped air pressure was recorded. In addition the Air Entry Value of the surface soil was determined. Local ground failure occurred when the air pressure mobilised in the base dry soil did not exceed the Air Entry Value of the surface soil. The effect of soil particle size, water infiltration pressure, and wet surface soil thickness, were also explored.