Abstract:Scouring below the check dam is a doomed consequence after the upstream reservoir is fully deposited by debris. With the boulders crashing and debris flow scouring, apron, auxiliary dam or submerged dike which is commonly used as an erosion-control below the dam is gradually damaged. In the meantime, a scoured pit is formed and expanded, causing exacerbated headward erosion to the foundation of the dam, and easily inducing a toppling failure to the dam. In order to solve this problem, this paper puts forward an application of small caliber steel pipe piles to reinforce the foundation of check dam and prevent it from scouring by debris flow. The principle is that the small caliber steel pipe piles are embedded in the debris deposit at the front side of the dam toe, and the cement slurry is also injected into the pipe piles, to penetrate into the loose debris between the piles and bond the pipe piles and the debris deposit together. Through these steps, a consolidation body with a stronger anti-scour ability is formed, preventing the dam foundation from the headward erosion by debris flow and ensuring its safe running. By means of theoretical analysis and laboratory test, 4 key parameters of embedding location, pile depth, spacing between piles and layout arrangement are determined for the technical method design. Finally, an engineering project is carried out in the Yongjiagou debris flow valley in Mianzhu City, validating that this technical method has a good reinforcing effect. It is hoped that this will provide a reference for the erosion-control design for check dams in the future or for the rehabilitation and reinforcement in the maintenance stage.