An experimental study on the influence of soil structure on erosion behavior of sensitive clays

ABSTRACT: The present research attempts to evaluate the influence of the aggregated structure of sensitive marine clays on their erosion characteristics. Hole erosion tests were carried on five pairs of remolded and undisturbed specimens, each of which derived from a distinctive parent soil. Hole erosion test results corroborated the high erosion resistance of the intact structured clays. The erodibility of remolded samples, which were subjected to unidimensional compression, was significantly greater due to the destructuration of interparticle bonding between soil fabrics. In addition, a decrease in soil erosion resistance was observed concurrently with an increase in sensitivity. A perceptible interrelation was recognized between the critical shear stress and the plasticity index, wherein soil erodibility decreases with the increase of the plasticity index.