Model test assessment of the generation of underground cavities and ground cave-ins by damaged sewer pipes

Ground cave-ins caused by damaged sewer pipes have been frequently reported in metropolitan areas and have caused severe socioeconomic losses. In this study, model experiments were conducted to determine how damaged sewer pipes generate ground cave-ins or cavities, with a focus on the influence of the soil type and density. Digital images of the model ground were captured to evaluate the internal deformation of the model grounds. Additionally, the vertical displacement at the surface, the size of the cavity, and the weight of the discharged soil were measured in each test. The results indicate that uniform soil with no fines content was more vulnerable to ground cavities than well-graded soil with fines content. Loose soil led to a ground cave-in with significant deformation over the entire model ground, whereas deformation was concentrated only on the ground cavities in the dense soil ground.