TY - JFULL AU - H. J. Kim and G. C. Park and K. C. Kim and J. H. Shin PY - 2015/1/ TI - Numerical Study on the Cavity-Induced Piping Failure of Embankment T2 - International Journal of Geological and Environmental Engineering SP - 1414 EP - 1419 VL - 9 SN - 1307-6892 UR - https://publications.waset.org/pdf/10003516 PU - World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology NX - Open Science Index 108, 2015 N2 - Cavities are frequently found beneath conduits on pile foundations in old embankments. Cavity reduces seepage length significantly and consequently causes piping failure of embankments. Case studies of embankment failures indicate that the relative settlement between ground and pile supported-concrete conduit was the main reason of the cavity. In this paper, an attempt to simulate the cavity-induced piping failure mechanism was made using finite element numerical method. Piping potential is examined by carrying out parametric study for influencing factors such as cavity length, water level, and flow conditions. The concentration of hydraulic gradient adjacent to cavity was found. It is found that the hydraulic gradient close to the cavity exceeds considerably the critical hydraulic gradient causing piping. Piping failure potential due to the existence of cavity is evaluated and contour map for the potential risk of an embankment for piping failure is proposed. ER -