Internal Fluidization in Granular Soils

Internal fluidization, the process whereby granular soil is transformed into a fluid-like state when liquid or gas is pumped into it, is of importance in a number of civil and geotechnical engineering processes, for example, pipe leakage, flow through sheet piling, pile jetting, and spudcan extraction. This paper draws together the limited literature on the subject and identifies the stages in the process by which fluidization occurs. Using data from small-scale experiments and simple analysis, factors affecting the onset of fluidization and its development are identified.