Study on redeposition of eroded finer particles during suffusion with image processing

Recent research on soil suffusion has highlighted the critical role of the redeposition of eroded finer particles in the development of suffusion and the suffusion-induced failure of dam foundations and alluvial slopes. However, a quantitative assessment of redeposition during suffusion is still needed. To this end, an image processing-based approach was developed and integrated into the one-dimensional suffusion tests to quantify the redeposition of eroded finer particles along the seepage direction. The results indicate that the redeposition mass of eroded finer particles exhibits an exponential decay along the seepage direction across various soil gradations and hydraulic conditions. A theoretical relationship was established between this exponential decay and the redeposition probability. Furthermore, the redeposition probability was found to be negatively related to the content of finer fraction, which was demonstrated to be rooted in the transition from a homogeneous to a localized distribution of redeposition position within the cross-section as the content of finer fraction increases from 15% to 35%.