Erosion probability model of base-soil particle migration into a granular filter under local flow

To avoid soil erosion, filters often are installed in the downstream cross section of dams. However, the probability of piping failure and the filter effect both are related to the soil pore network. Previous erosion probability models for a base soil-filter system do not consider the effect of local flow. Therefore, in this study, an improved erosion probability model is established, in which the deviation between the main flow direction of the soil and the local flow direction in the filter was considered based on a previous model. The improved model was validated by numerical simulation. The erosion probability was found to affect the reasonable evaluation of filter effects and the optimal selection of filter thickness. The controlling constriction size in a granular filter was increased to Dc* = Dc5 with a filter thickness of 59 Dm.