Work

Investigating the Physical Mechanisms of Quicksand Using a Custom-Designed Experimental Apparatus

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Quicksand initiation in saturated sandy soils represents a critical geohazard with significant implications for geotechnical infrastructure stability. Despite its importance, the granular-scale mechanisms driving the physical state transitions during quicksand remain insufficiently understood. This study employs a custom-designed hydrodynamic seepage testing system to investigate these mechanisms, enabling precise regulation of hydrodynamic velocity and real-time monitoring of pressure variations. Through experiments on quartz sand specimens with varying particle gradations, we demonstrate that particle gradation primarily governs quicksand susceptibility, while hydrodynamic velocity controls its initiation timing and exhibits a linear correlation with seepage discharge. The quicksand process evolves through three distinct stages: self-consolidation, reorganization, and quicksand initiation, with the reorganization stage identified as the pivotal phase where particle rearrangement dictates system stability. These findings elucidate the intrinsic physical mechanisms of quicksand as a hydraulic failure phenomenon, offering valuable insights for predictive modeling and geohazard mitigation in granular media.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app15126415

Authors: Jianhui Long, Rui Dong, Kaixin Zhang, Hangyu Weng, Zhiqiang Yi

Institutions: Taiyuan University of Technology, China Institute of Geological Environmental Monitoring

Language: English

Topic: Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Mechanics

Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funder: ShanXi Science and Technology Department