During the dike reinforcement of the Yellow River with silt

cracks appeared in the first project stage in Henan and Shandong Province. There were not quantitative results about impacts of reinforced dike with silt on dike body so it is very difficult to choose the reasonable construction velocity of reinforced dike with silt. In fact

the dissipation course of moisture in silt body and dike is an unsaturated liquid-solid coupling problem. Construction of reinforced dike with silt by steps is a problem of changing water level boundary; and it equivalent to a constant water level boundary with several steps. With unsaturated seepage analysis

saturared line of dike body and silt body can be calculated based on construction of reinforced dike with silt of each step

so the soakage line can be regarded as a known boundary condition. Considering the mechanical characteristics of dike soil and the drainage condition

analysis of unsaturated liquid-solid coupling is carried out; thus the corresponding reasonable construction velocity of reinforced dike with silt can be put forward. Study shows that the analysis results of the method is consistent with the fact; thus it will not only provide theory basis for project design and construction of reinforcing dike with silt in the Yellow River

but also offer references to other rivers’ harnessing.