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Title: APPARATUS, TEST PROCEDURES, AND ANALYTICAL METHODS TO MEASURE SOIL ERODIBILITY IN SITU

Author
item Hanson, Gregory
item Cook, Kevin

Submitted to: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2003
Publication Date: 11/15/2004
Citation: Hanson, G.J., Cook, K.R. 2004. Apparatus, test procedures, and analytical methods to measure soil erodibility in situ. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 20(4):455-462.

Interpretive Summary: There are a number of water management problems that require the assessment of the erosion resistance of cohesive soils including river channel erosion, gully erosion, earthen spillway erosion, road embankments, levees, and earthen dams. A jet erosion tool has been developed, as depicted in the literature, to assess the erosion resistance of cohesive soils. The erosion resistance parameters determined using this tool can be used in existing erosion rate equations. The test is simple, quick, and relatively inexpensive to perform. The test is repeatable and gives consistent results. The objective of this paper is to provide information so that practitioners can use this tool in the field to measure erosion resistance. A detailed description for the apparatus, testing methodology, and analysis procedure are provided. An example case is also presented to illustrate the use of test results to predict erosion in an earthen channel. The measured erosion resistance of the example case using this tool resulted in an estimated average erosion of 15.7 cm (6.2 in), which was comparable to the measured average centerline erosion in the open channel flow test of 14.5 cm (5.7 in).

Technical Abstract: The assessment of the erodibility of soil materials is essential for analyzing and modeling rill, gully, streambed, streambank, spillway, and embankment erosion. A submerged jet-testing apparatus has been developed and used for characterizing soil erodibility in several applications as cited in the literature. The apparatus has been developed based on knowledge of the hydraulic characteristics of a submerged jet and the characteristics of soil erodibility. The test is simple, quick, and relatively inexpensive to perform. The test is repeatable and gives consistent results. The coefficients obtained from the test results can be used in current equations to predict erosion. This paper provides a detailed description of the apparatus, methodology, and procedures for conducting jet tests in the field. An example case is also presented to illustrate the use of test results to predict erosion in an earthen channel. The estimated average erosion for the example case of an open channel test based on jet test results was 15.7 cm (6.2 in) and the measured average centerline erosion in the open channel flow test was 14.5 cm (5.7 in).