Laboratory study on the relationship between soilmass deformation and water seepage in North China

The study on the relationship between the soilmass deformation and water seepage under certain stress in North China was conducted through combined tests of the consolidation deformation and water seepage. The results showed that the actual deformation of the clay soil under stress is greater than the deformation induced by the seepage. On average, the deformation induced by seepage was about 60% of the actual clay deformation under stress. The actual deformation of sandy soil, however, is less than the deformation induced by seepage. On average, the seepage-induced deformation was approximately 125% of the actual sandy soil deformation. These results indicated that the sandy soil did not have complete plasticity. Clay had the highest amount of water seepage and deformation, while silty soil, calcareous highly cemented clayed soil and sandy soil had less water seepage and deformation. The underlying mechanisms were also discussed. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of land subsidence mechanism and rough estimation of groundwater exploitation.