Experimental model study on thermal imaging of embankment dam leakage with different filling materials

Physical models serve as a vital tool in the research of dam piping leakage detection methods, playing a crucial role in revealing dam leakage mechanisms and advancing leakage detection technologies.This paper comprehensively reviews and analyzes the current research status and progress in physical model experiments for dam piping leakage, and proposes an outdoor model design for homogeneous earth dam leakage detection based on infrared thermal imaging.Using clay from East China as the dam construction material, three different fillers—edible salt, sponge, and fine sand—were pre-embedded to simulate leakage channels, thereby investigating concentrated leakage phenomena under various leakage modes.The experimental results show that different fillers significantly influence the onset time of leakage and the characteristics of seepage points.Specifically, channels filled with edible salt exhibited the shortest leakage onset time, with seepage points developing vertically along the direction of gravity; channels filled with sponge demonstrated stable leakage, with seepage points showing a gradual circular expansion trend; while channels filled with fine sand exhibited the slowest leakage rate, with seepage points remaining relatively confined in a narrow, strip-like pattern.The devised homogeneous earth dam model scheme can effectively simulate the characteristics of leakage areas, providing a valuable experimental platform for applied research on infrared thermography in dam leakage detection and offering insights and references for similar model studies.