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Environmental and Engineering Geoscience

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Sinkhole Stabilization Design by Engineered Graded Filters

¹ Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401. Adam Prochaska was born and raised on a family dairy farm near Black River Falls, Wisconsin. He received his BSCE from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville in 2002. In 2004 he obtained a MSCE with a geotechnical emphasis from Purdue University. Adam is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from Colorado School of Mines, where he is researching debris flow mitigation design aspects. He is also currently employed by RJH Consultants, Inc., a geotechnical and water resources engineering firm. This paper was originally researched and written for an advanced engineering design course at Colorado School of Mines

With increasing urban sprawl, developments are often forced to be located in areas that are geologically unfavorable. In karstic regions, these unfavorable areas would include locations that are susceptible to sinkholes. This paper provides a simple design procedure for one of the available sinkhole stabilization methods: a granular filter, a concrete slab with a filtered drain, and a rock drain to bridge across bedrock fissures. A hypothetical yet realistic example problem is worked through to illustrate the design process. Although a general sinkhole stabilization process has been outlined in this paper, each sinkhole is geologically unique and must be analyzed on an individual basis.

Key Words: Karst • Sinkhole • Graded Filter