Experimental and Numerical Based Modeling of the Euphrates Riverbanks Failure

Abstract

Riverbank failure offers serious geotechnical and hydraulic dangers to infrastructure, the environment, and the quality of water along fluvial rivers. This study looks at the collapse causes of riverbanks and surrounding embankments over an 8-kilometer stretch of the Euphrates River in Babilon City. An integrated technique integrating field collection, thorough laboratory testing, and the GeoStudio (SEEP/W and SLOPE/W) model was used. Laboratory data demonstrated that high silt and clay concentration (62% silt, 28% clay in embankments; 58% silt, 24% clay in banks) influences soil behavior. Also, the seepage analysis highlighted pore water pressure variations (0.2–1.2 m) and discharge rates (1.76×10⁻⁸ to 1.84×10⁻⁷ m³/sec), which directly influence embankment stability. Slope stability analysis demonstrated a 26% increase in the factor of safety (FS) with higher soil cohesion, emphasizing the importance of cohesive strength in mitigating failure risks. This study bridges the empirical-computational gap by establishing site-specific hydraulic conductivity functions and safety factor sensitivity charts for fine-grained fluvial soils, offering actionable reinforcement strategies (geosynthetic additives and stone riprap). The integration of field data with comprehensive laboratory tests utilizing GeoStudio to determine seepage flow and slope stability under many circumstances is innovative. The work comes to the conclusion that practical insights for riverbank management may be obtained by combining laboratory data with numerical modeling. Periodic monitoring, soil fortification with additives, and stability-enhancing preventive measures like stone rippling or gabions are among the recommendations.