Erosion tests on four intact Ontario clays
Erosion tests were carried out on four natural intact cohesive soils from Ontario using laboratory flume tests with both clear water and water with sand in suspension. It was found that erosion was initiated at discontinuities. The critical shear stresses were low and were not related to the geotechnical properties of the soils. Higher rates of erosion occurred with the sand suspension, and erosion appeared to be controlled by the movement of the sand particles. It is suggested that where the eroding water contains particles in suspension, such as in river beds and along shorelines of cohesive soil, erosion may be controlled by the size of the particles rather than the properties of the cohesive soil or the eroding water. Key words: erosion, cohesive soil, flume test.