Reinforcement of Eroded Granular Materials Through Fine Grains Injection

Abstract In-order to counter the loss of fine particles during suffusion, a novel method of reinforcement is proposed which involves the infiltration of fine grains inside the eroded soil mass. We investigate the impact of this technique on the mechanical properties of the infiltrated material. A loose soil column consisting of only coarse particles is prepared inside a Suffusion Permeameter device and injected with fluidized fine grains until reaching a steady profile of fines concentration. Then, the injected samples are subjected to drained triaxial tests to study their mechanical behavior. Reconstituted samples (with the same fines concentration profile as the injected samples), as well as non-injected ones (with only coarse particles) are also tested for comparison. In-order to obtain the microscopic perspective of the interaction between the fine particles and coarse grains during injection, numerical simulations are performed using the DEM-PFV coupling scheme with YADE.