Experimental Study on the Factors Influencing the Arch Height of Overlying Soil in Karst Area

Abstract

AbstractOn the evolution of collapsed soil caves, it is important to consider the soil arching effect and the factors that influence arch height. This study examines the impact of collapse width and filling height on load distribution and soil displacement to uncover the stability mechanisms of soil cavities. The findings reveal that: (1) Explaining the formation of soil sinkholes in terms of load sharing, it is evident that the soil arching effect enables transfer of pressure exerted above the soil arch to the nearby stable region that results in stress deflection within the stable area. (2) Interpretation of soil cave evolution based on displacement angle, indicating that the process of collapsing the soil cave triggers the soil arch effect due to the uneven force of soil particles, leading to soil settlement. (3) Arch height is the primary factor for measuring the soil cave stability from the perspective of soil displacement. Compared to the factor of filling height, the collapse width has more influence on the arch height. Thus, engineers working in karst areas should prioritize understanding the stability mechanism of soil holes to enhance the safety and reliability of construction projects.