Cyclic wetting and drying impact the integrity of cohesive clay materials in geotechnical engineering applications. Boom Clay, frequently used in erosion protective layers, presents a critical case study due to its widespread application and the environmental conditions it endures. This research delves into the effects of repeated wetting and drying cycles on Boom Clay’s erodibility, a process that protective layers often undergo during construction and exposure.

Utilizing the Erosion Function Apparatus (EFA), performed experiments targeted changes in the structure and erosion resistance of Boom Clay under cyclic conditions. The test setup was adjusted, improved, and calibrated. It was observed that these cycles induce alterations in the clay’s erodibility, contrasting with the behavior of untreated samples.

The results demonstrated cyclic wetting and drying increases the susceptibility of the material to erosion, and the rate of erosion, and decreases the threshold of the erosion process. This study enhances our understanding of how environmental stressors influence the long-term behavior of erosion protection materials. It provides engineers and environmental planners with insights for selecting and assessing materials for erosion protection, emphasizing the importance of considering environmental conditions in their design and application.