hydraulic filling

Hydraulic filling is a construction technique where earthy materials, typically sands, are transported in water via pipelines to a designated area and then deposited by draining off the excess water. This method has been widely used in maritime works and was a common practice for constructing embankment dams in the early 20th century.1

A related concept is the hydraulic-fill dam, which is built by washing earthy materials into place. Hydraulic mining, a surface technique, uses a high-pressure water stream to excavate material, creating a slurry that is then channeled for mineral recovery. This is a practical way to mine unconsolidated materials from placers and other deposits. Hydraulic engineering itself is a branch of civil engineering focused on the use and control of flowing water.234