Effect of Permeability Random Field on Piping Risk of a River Dike

The piping risks of river dikes are discussed in the present study. It is shown how the cone penetration test (CPTU) is used to obtain detailed information on the inside of dikes or underneath them. Since the CPTU makes spatially short-interval tests possible, the spatial variability of the soil properties can be identified. In this study, CPTU results are transformed into permeability based on the CPTU model tests, which have been conducted in the laboratory by using the CPTU mold. The permeability is spatially interpolated by the geostatistical simulation method and then applied to a 3-D finite element seepage analysis. Finally, the locations at high risk for piping inside a river dike in Japan are clarified through the seepage analysis.