Sand and Mud Properties
Oral
Luis Zambrano-Cruzatty, MS
Research Assistant
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Nina Stark, PhD
assistant professor
Virginia Tech
Alba Yerro, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The friction threshold velocity for initiation erosion in sands has been studied for decades. It is an essential factor in determining the rate of erosion due to the wind action and consequently for coastal applications such as beach nourishment. This study presents a new approach to assess the friction threshold velocity, starting from an infinite slope analysis and incorporating the effects of matric suction and shear strength on the derivation of an expression. The derived equation is tested using literature data, showing that the shear strength approach can be used to predict erosion susceptibility due to wind on unsaturated sands.