experimental study on piping of dike foundation with suspended plastic cutoff wall under vertical load

In this study, the influence of a vertical load on the deformation of a suspended plastic cutoff wall and the evolution of the piping of a dike foundation were studied through model tests and numerical analysis methods. the results of the numerical analysis were in good agreement with those of the model tests. under vertical load and seepage force, the suspended plastic cutoff wall has well co-deformation with soil, and the mud permeable zone plays the role of “bridge”; the vertical load can increase the critical hydraulic gradient and failure hydraulic gradient and the corresponding upstream waterhead of dike foundation, and the influence of failure hydraulic gradient is greater than that of critical hydraulic gradient. in addition, the numerical analysis method obtains the distribution and variation in the hydraulic gradient along the piping channel from the pre-set orifice to the inlet, which provides reliable data support for the analysis of the evolution mechanism of dike foundation piping. the study also proves that the mud penetration belt plays a synergistic and auxiliary role in the prevention of dike foundation piping by the suspended cutoff wall, which provides strong support for further understanding of the mechanism of preventing dike foundation piping by the cutoff wall. © the author(s), under exclusive licence to the iran university of science and technology 2023.