Geotechnical studies on gully erosion in the town of São Pedro, SP

Abstract

This paper deals with prevention and/or correction of areas susceptible of gully erosion (boçorocas), starting with the diagnosis of the phenomenon through geological as well as geomorphological and geotechnical methods. The sediments of a boçoroca, located in the municipality of São Pedro, central-eastem São Paulo State, were studied both in field and in the laboratory, from the viewpoint of susceptibility to erosion. The following characteristics were evinced: a) granulometric homogeneity; b) low values of the shear-strength parameters; c) high void rations; d) perrneability values (K20º) distributed around 4,27x10-3cm/s; e) porosity values around 42%. As to the Atterberg limits the samples are considered as non plastic.