The Bizarre Paths of Groundwater Around Structures
Practical Engineering・12 minutes read
The incident in British Columbia in 2015 involving a worker falling into a sinkhole due to a steel caisson blowing out highlighted the crucial role of groundwater on civil engineering structures like dams, which can lead to unexpected failures if not addressed properly. Engineers use methods such as flow nets, cutoff walls, drains, relief wells, and pumps to combat the effects of groundwater, ensuring stability and safety in structures facing groundwater challenges.
Insights
- Groundwater behavior can significantly impact civil engineering structures like dams, causing erosion, piping, and uplift pressure issues that may lead to catastrophic failures if not properly managed.
- Engineers utilize flow nets to estimate seepage volume and pressure in the subsurface, implementing solutions like cutoff walls, drains, relief wells, and pumps to mitigate groundwater challenges and enhance structural stability.
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Recent questions
What are the potential impacts of groundwater on civil engineering structures?
Groundwater can cause erosion, piping, and uplift pressure, leading to rapid failure if not addressed. Engineers must consider its behavior to prevent catastrophic failures in structures like dams.
How do engineers estimate seepage volume and pressure in the subsurface?
Engineers use flow nets to estimate seepage volume and pressure in the subsurface, crucial for predicting uplift forces and ensuring the stability of structures like dams.
What are common solutions to combat uplift pressure on gravity dams?
Cutoff walls, drains, relief wells, and pumps are common solutions to combat uplift pressure on gravity dams. These measures reduce seepage volume and pressure, enhancing the stability of the structure.
What challenges do structures like caissons and retaining walls face regarding groundwater?
Structures like caissons and retaining walls face challenges such as sinkholes due to groundwater. Dewatering and other measures are necessary to prevent hazards and ensure the safety of these structures.
How can groundwater impact the stability of civil engineering structures?
Groundwater can counteract a dam's weight, cause erosion, and lead to rapid failure if uplift pressure is neglected. Understanding and managing groundwater behavior is crucial for ensuring the stability of civil engineering structures.
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Summary
00:00
Groundwater Hazards in Civil Engineering Structures
- In 2015, a worker in British Columbia was pulled into a sinkhole on a construction site for a sewage lift station due to a steel caisson blowing out.
- Groundwater played a significant role in the incident, highlighting the importance of considering its impact on subsurface structures.
- Groundwater behavior differs from surface waters and can have unexpected effects on civil engineering structures like dams.
- Groundwater can cause erosion and piping below a dam, leading to rapid failure if not addressed.
- Uplift pressure from groundwater, neglected by early engineers, can counteract a dam's weight and cause catastrophic failures.
- Engineers use flow nets to estimate seepage volume and pressure in the subsurface, crucial for predicting uplift forces.
- Cutoff walls are a common solution to combat uplift pressure on gravity dams, reducing seepage volume and pressure.
- Drains below a dam filter seepage and relieve uplift pressure, enhancing stability by removing water.
- Relief wells and pumps can further reduce uplift pressure by lowering the groundwater level below a dam.
- Structures like caissons, retaining walls, and temporary shoring also face groundwater challenges, requiring dewatering and other measures to prevent hazards like sinkholes.
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