CivilSigma
Structural
The question : Could seepage under flood sand bags potentially cause scouring under foundation footings of a home?
Details: A home was subject to a flood. The home bears on sand using reinforced concrete footings. To mitigate flood water, sand bags were placed around the property, let's assume at a distance of 9ft from the the property line. Assume water flood levels peaked at approximately 2 ft on the exterior of the flood bags. Due to a difference in head, seepage and flow of flood water to the interior of the bags occurred, and water was constantly being pumped out. No signs of damage or soil erosion within the vicinity of the bags was observed.
Could it be possible that this flow of water scour the sand beneath the footings and induce home settlement, uplift, or damage?
I don't believe so, as if the flow was aggressive enough to cause scouring below the footings, it would have caused soil erosion near the flood sandbags.
What do you think?
All the best,
CS
Details: A home was subject to a flood. The home bears on sand using reinforced concrete footings. To mitigate flood water, sand bags were placed around the property, let's assume at a distance of 9ft from the the property line. Assume water flood levels peaked at approximately 2 ft on the exterior of the flood bags. Due to a difference in head, seepage and flow of flood water to the interior of the bags occurred, and water was constantly being pumped out. No signs of damage or soil erosion within the vicinity of the bags was observed.
Could it be possible that this flow of water scour the sand beneath the footings and induce home settlement, uplift, or damage?
I don't believe so, as if the flow was aggressive enough to cause scouring below the footings, it would have caused soil erosion near the flood sandbags.
What do you think?
All the best,
CS