Többletpórusnyomást

Többletpórusnyomást, a Hungarian term, translates to "excess pore pressure" in English and refers to a phenomenon in soil mechanics and geophysics. It describes a condition where the pore water pressure within a soil or rock mass exceeds the hydrostatic pressure that would be expected based on the depth of the water table. This excess pressure can arise from various geological and engineering processes.

One common cause of többletpórusnyomást is rapid loading of the soil, such as during the construction of embankments or the operation of heavy machinery. The sudden application of stress can trap pore water, preventing it from draining away quickly enough. This trapped water then exerts pressure, increasing the overall pore pressure. Another contributing factor can be the presence of low-permeability layers within the soil profile. These layers can impede the natural drainage of water, leading to a build-up of pressure in the overlying or adjacent higher-permeability materials.

Többletpórusnyomást has significant practical implications. It can reduce the effective stress within the soil, thereby decreasing its shear strength and increasing its susceptibility to failure, such as landslides or liquefaction during seismic events. In engineering, understanding and accounting for többletpórusnyomást is crucial for designing stable foundations, retaining walls, and other structures that interact with the ground. Geologists also study this phenomenon to understand groundwater flow patterns and the potential for geohazards.