Tutorial 3:

1
1. What are the investigation methods should be conducted
when planning or designing a dewatering system?

2
What are the investigation methods should be conducted when
planning or designing a dewatering system?
Solution:
1. Firstly, conventional borings should be conducted to characterize the subsurface profile:

Important considerations in conducting a boring program include:

3
What are the investigation methods should be conducted when
planning or designing a dewatering system?
Solution:
2. Secondly, grain size distribution should be analyzed:

a) Grain size distribution of soil deposits affects their permeability and therefore is of primary concern to
predicting water inflow into an excavation, for example, k=D102 for uniformly grade sands.

b) Grain size distribution test should be conducted in the laboratory according to ASTM Test Method D-422
(ASTM, 1990). By doing sieving test for coarse-grained soils and hydrometer for fine-grained soils. Grain size
distribution curves should be developed.

4
What are the investigation methods should be conducted when
planning or designing a dewatering system?
Solution:
3. Lab test
a) Conduct laboratory permeability tests on representative samples obtained from boring program;

b) Test device: permeameter (ASTM, 1990). A constant-head permeameter for sands and gravels; fall-head
permeameter for silts and clays;

c) May not reliable: because of changes imposed on the soils during sampling, transportation, and
preparation processes, samples are never completely undisturbed.

5
What are the investigation methods should be conducted when
planning or designing a dewatering system?
Solution:
4. Field test
a) Conduct full-scale field pump test to predict field permeability rates at a site;

b) Test well: a test well similar to the anticipated dewatering wells, should be installed and pumped for a
duration of time to predict flow rates and cone of depression geometry;

c) Best method: such in-situ test can guarantee the precision of test results. Test well should penetrate the
aquifer if practical and should be located near the center of the project site. Constant pump rate should be
maintained until equilibrium or static level are reached.

6
2. Estimation of flow rates

Example:

Required: total dewatering flow rate to lower the groundwater table to

5 ft below the bottom of excavation

7
Estimation of flow rates
Darcys law:

8
Estimation of flow rates
Darcys law:

9
 Estimation of flow rates
Well Formulas:

Two-Demensional Flow Nets:

Amount of flow can be determined after flow net is

constructed for the dewatered excavation
10
Estimation of flow rates
Solution:

11
 Estimation of flow rates
Solution:

12
Estimation of flow rates
Solution:

13