On the modelling of piping erosion

A phenomenon called ‘piping’ often occurs in hydraulics works, involving the formation and evolution of a continuous tunnel between the upstream and the downstream sides. The hole erosion test is commonly used to quantify the rate of piping erosion. However, few attempts have been made to model these tests. From the equations for diphasic flow with diffusion, and the equations of jump with erosion, a piping model is developed. A characteristic time of internal erosion process is proposed. Comparison with experimental data validates our results.