Soil Mechanics −

Seepage Analysis

Chih-Ping Lin
National Chiao Tung Univ.
cplin@mail.nctu.edu.tw

Outline
„ Laplace Equation of Continuity
… 1-D Example

„ Flow Nets (2-D)

„ Computations using Flow Nets
„ Flow Nets in Anisotropic Soil
„ Seepage through an Earth Dam
„ 3-D Flow
 Laplace Eqn.

Laplace’s Equation of Continuity

Laplace Eqn.

Laplace’s Equation of Continuity

⎡⎛ ∂v x ⎞ ⎛ ∂v z ⎞ ⎤
⎢⎜ v x + dx ⎟ dz dy + ⎜ v z + dz ⎟ dx dy ⎥
⎣⎝ ∂x ⎠ ⎝ ∂z ⎠ ⎦
− [v x dz dy + v z dx dy] = 0

∂v x ∂v z
+ =0
∂x ∂z
∂h
v x = k xi x = k x
∂x
∂h
v z = k zi z = k z
∂z

∂ 2h ∂ 2h
kx 2 + kz 2 = 0 If kx=ky ∂ 2h ∂ 2h
∂x ∂z + 2 =0
∂x 2
∂z
 Laplace Eqn.

1-D Example
∂ 2h
=0 h = C1 + C2 z
∂z 2
At z = 0, h = h1, we can get C1A = h1.
At z = HA, v = v2 = − k A (∂h / ∂z )A = − k AC2 A

C2 A = −v2 / k A
v2
hA ( z ) = h1 − z
kA

At z = HA, v = v2 = − k B (∂h / ∂z )B = − k B C2 B
C 2 B = − v2 / k B
At z = HA+ HB, h = 0, and we get

C1B = −C2 B (H A + H B ) = v2 (H A + H B ) / k B
v ( H + H B ) v2
hB ( z ) = 2 A − z
kB kB

Laplace Eqn.

At z = LA, hA(LA) = hB(LA), so we can get

h1
v2 =
H A / k A + H B / kB

For 0 ≤ z < LA,

⎛ kB ⎞
h( z ) = h1 ⎜⎜1 − z ⎟⎟
⎝ H Ak B + H B k A ⎠
For LA ≤ z< LA + LB,

⎛ ⎞
h = h1 ⎜⎜
kA
(H A + H B − z )⎟⎟
⎝ H Ak B + H B k A ⎠
Solution to 2-D flow
„ Analytical solution possible only for simple
boundary conditions. But most seepage
problems have complex boundary conditions.
„ Alternative solution
… Flow net (Graphical solution)
… Electrical analogy models
… Numerical solutions

Flow Nets

Flow through a Dam

Phreatic line

Unsaturated
Soil Drainage
blanket

z Flow of water

∂2 h ∂2 h
x + 2 =0
∂x 2
∂z
 Flow Nets
Graphical representation of solution
1. Equipotentials Lines of constant head, h(x,z)

Equipotential (EP)

Flow Nets
Graphical representation of solution
2. Flow lines Paths followed by water particles -
tangential to flow

Phreatic line

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)
 Flow Nets
Properties of Equipotentials

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)

h(x,z) = constant (1a)

∂h ∂h
Thus: dx + dz = 0 (1b)
∂x ∂z
⎡ dz ⎤ ∂h / ∂x
Equipotenial slope ⎢⎣ dx ⎥⎦ = − (1c)
EP ∂h / ∂z

Flow Nets
Properties of Flow Lines
∆z
∆x
Geometry

Flow line (FL)

vz
vx
Equipotential (EP)
Kinematics

⎡ dx ⎤ vx
From the geometry
⎢⎣ dz ⎥⎦ = (2b)
FL vz
∂h ∂h
Now from Darcy’s law vx = −k vz = − k
∂x ∂z

⎡ dx ⎤ ∂h ∂x
⎢⎣ dz ⎥⎦ =
Hence FL ∂h ∂z (2c)
 Flow Nets
Orthogonality of flow and equipotential lines

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)

⎡ dz ⎤ ∂h / ∂x
On an equipotential ⎢⎣ d x ⎥⎦ = −
EP ∂h / ∂z

⎡ dx ⎤ ∂h ∂x
On a flow line ⎢⎣ d z ⎥⎦ =
FL ∂h ∂z

⎡ dx ⎤ ⎡ dx ⎤
Hence ⎢⎣ d z ⎥⎦ × ⎢⎣ d z ⎥⎦ = −1 (3)
FL EP

Flow Nets
Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
h+∆h Y ∆Q
h v = (4a)
yx
Z FL
h+2∆h From Darcy’s law
T
EP ∆h
v = k (4b)
zt
t X ∆Q
y Combining (4a)&(4b)
X
FL
z ∆Q yx
= (4c)
k∆ h zt
Conclusion
Similarly
∆Q yx YX
= (5) ∆Q YX
zt ZT = (4d)
k∆ h ZT
 Flow Nets
Geometric properties of flow nets
∆Q B From the definition of flow
∆Q (6a)
v=
EP( h ) cd
∆Q C
From Darcy’s law
FL D
∆h
v=k (6b)
d A ab
b EP ( h +
+∆∆h
h)
Combining (6a)&(6b)
a
c
∆Q cd
= (6c)
Conclusion k∆h ab
cd CD
= Similarly
ab AB ∆Q CD
= (6d)
k∆h AB

Flow Nets

Graphical Construction of Flow Net

1. Equipotential line ⊥ flow line

Boundary conditions: 2. Flow element ~ square
• Submerged soil boundary – Equipotential
b. Impermeable soil boundary - Flow Line
c. Line of constant pore pressure - eg. phreatic surface
 Flow Nets

Procedure for drawing flow nets

„ Mark all boundary conditions
„ Draw a coarse net which is consistent with the
boundary conditions and which has orthogonal
equipotentials and flow lines. (It is usually easier to
visualise the pattern of flow so start by drawing the
flow lines).
„ Modify the mesh so that it meets the conditions
outlined above and so that rectangles between
adjacent flow lines and equipotentials are square.
„ Refine the flow net by repeating the previous step.

Flow Nets
 Computations using Flow Nets
Calculation of flow
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0

h = 3m
h =12m h = 9m h = 6m

For a single Flow tube of width 1m: ∆Q = k ∆h

For k = 10-5 m/s and a width of 1m ∆Q = 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m

For 5 such flow tubes Q = 5 x 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m

For a 25m wide dam Q = 25 x 5 x 10-5 x 3 m3/sec

H
Note that per metre width Q= k Nf
Nh

Computations using Flow Nets

Calculation of pore pressure
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0
5m
P

h = 3m
h = 12m h = 9m h = 6m

uw
Pore pressure from h= +z
γw
At P, using dam base
as datum u w = [12 − ( −5)] γ w
 Computations using Flow Nets

©2001 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.
Figure 7.13 (a) A weir; (b) uplift under a hydraulic structure

Anisotropic Flow Nets

Flow Nets in Anisotropic Soil

Governing Equation Transformation
∂ 2h ∂ 2h + x = α x
kH 2 + kV 2 = 0
∂x ∂z z = z

kH ∂ 2h ∂ 2h
+ =0
α 2 k V ∂x 2 ∂ z 2

+
∂ 2h ∂ 2h kH
+ 2 =0 α=
∂x 2
∂z kV
 Anisotropic Flow Nets

Example1: Flow net for anisotropic soil

The figure shows the dam drawn at its natural scale

H1 Impermeable
dam
H2
z L
Z
Soil layer
x

Impermeable bedrock

Anisotropic Flow Nets

Example1: Flow net for anisotropic soil

Let us assume that the soil has different horizontal
and vertical permeabilities such that kH = 4 kV

Transformation

kH 4 x kV
α = = =2
kV kV
so
x
x = 2x or x=
2
z =z
 Anisotropic Flow Nets

Example1: Flow net for anisotropic soil

The figure shows the dam drawn to its transformed scale

H1
H2
z L/2
Z
x Soil layer

Impermeable bedrock

Anisotropic Flow Nets

Example2: Flow net for anisotropic soil

 Anisotropic Flow Nets

Equivalent permeability for anisotropic flow

h h - ∆h h h - ∆h

∆Q
transformed
Natural scale t scale

x x
Considering horizontal flow we have
∆h
(a) Natural scale ∆Q = k H t (7a)
x
∆h ∆h k H (7b)
(b) Transformed scale ∆Q = k eq t = k eq t
x x kV

Equating 7a and 7b gives k eq = k H kV

Anisotropic Flow Nets

Example1: Seepage under a dam

h1 = 13.0 m
h2 = 2.5 m
kV = 10-6 m/s
kH = 4 x10-6 m/s

k eq = (4 × 10 −6 ) × (10 −6 ) = 2 × 10 −6 m / sec
(1 3 − 2 . 5 )
∆h = = 0 .7 5 m
14

∆Q = ( 2 ´ 10 − 6 ) ´ ( 0.75 ) = 1.5 ´ 10 − 6 m 3 / s / m
thus
Q = 6 ´ 1.5 m 3 / s / m = 9 ´ 10 − 6 m 3 / s / m
 Seepage in Earth Dam
Seepage through a dam on impervious base

Seepage in Earth Dam

1. Obtain α
2. Calculate ∆ and then 0.3 ∆
3. Calculate d
4. With know values of α and d, calculate L by
5. With known value of L, calculate q by
 Seepage in Earth Dam
Seepage through a dam on impervious base

3-D Flow

3-Dimentional Flow
„ Laplace Eqn. becomes ∂ 2h ∂ 2h ∂ 2h
+ + =0
∂x 2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2

„ Difficult to solve for most 3-dimentional

problems.
„ Exception: flow to wells
… Pumping tests-confined acquifer
… Pumping tests-unconfined aquifer
 3-D Flow
Pumping Tests-Confined Aquifer

3-D Flow
Pumping Tests-Unconfined Aquifer