EROSION RESISTANCE OF COMPACTED SOILS

There has been recent interest in overflow erosion on overtopped earth embankments, which are typically constructed from compacted cohesive soils. A study of the effects of compaction density and moisture content on the erosion resistance of a soil material is presented. Four soil materials were tested using a laboratory submerged jet testing apparatus. The results of the laboratory testing were used to quantify the changes in erosion resistance due to changes in compaction density and moisture content. Increases in compaction moisture content were observed to result in increased resistance to erosion. Increases in density at a constant moisture content were also observed to result in increased resistance to erosion. Proper control of these factors during embankment construction could make a difference in performance.