Seepage, Erosion and Piping.

Matthew Duthy

Abstract

“It’s not the soil that causes problems in geotechnical engineering – it’s the water in the soil”. This statement was made to Matthew Duthy by one of his former bosses, and it has stuck in Matthew’s head ever since. Water in soil causes a number of problems in geotechnical engineering, but the focus for this presentation is on seepage, erosion and piping. A few fundamental principles for each of these three types of geotechnical problem are outlined.

A significant number of case studies, most from Matthew’s own experience, are used to illustrate the applicability of these fundamental principles – how these fundamental principles are ignored at one’s peril, and how appropriate and practical preventative or remedial measures need to bear these fundamental principles in mind.

About Matthew Duthy

Matthew received a Civil Engineering degree from Adelaide University in 1990 and a PhD in Earth Sciences from Flinders University in 1996. He has worked for large multi-disciplinary consulting firms since graduation, specialising in geotechnical engineering. He commenced working with PPK Consultants (now Parsons Brinckerhoff), followed by a 3 year stint in England working for Binnie Black & Veatch (now Black & Veatch Consulting). Upon returning to Adelaide, Matthew worked for URS Australia, but since 2008 he has worked for Aurecon Australasia (formerly Connell Wager) where he is a technical director for ground engineering.

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