Soil Mechanics [CV-231]

BSc Civil Engineering – 4th Semester

Lecture # 19
(Permeability through Stratified Soils)
by
Dr. Muhammad Irfan
CEO, Birudo Engineers
Visiting Faculty, FAST NUCES Lahore
Email: mirfan1@msn.com
Lecture Handouts: https://bit.ly/30VJDtB
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Equivalent Hydraulic Conductivity of Stratified Soils
Permeability Parallel to Stratification
 Velocity of flow ‘v’ → different for all layers
 Hydraulic gradient ‘i’ → same for each layer
Taking third dimension (i.e. into the plane of paper) as unity

q = v⋅ A q = v ⋅ (1 ⋅ H ) q = kH ⋅ i ⋅ H

Total flow → sum of flows though each layer

q = k H 1 ⋅ i ⋅ H1 + k H 2 ⋅ i ⋅ H 2 + k H 3 ⋅ i ⋅ H 3 +
 + k Hn ⋅ i ⋅ H n
k H ⋅ i ⋅ H = k H 1 ⋅ i ⋅ H1 + k H 2 ⋅ i ⋅ H 2 + k H 3 ⋅ i ⋅ H 3 +
 + k Hn ⋅ i ⋅ H n

k H 1 ⋅ H1 + k H 2 ⋅ H 2 + k H 3 ⋅ H 3 +  + k Hn ⋅ H n
kH =
H

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Equivalent Hydraulic Conductivity of Stratified Soils
Permeability Perpendicular to Stratification
 Velocity of flow ‘v’ and discharge ‘q’ → same through each layer
 Hydraulic gradient ‘i’ and head loss ‘h’ → different through each layer
h
h = h1 + h2 + h3 +  hn i=
H
h = i1 ⋅ H1 + i2 ⋅ H 2 + i3 ⋅ H 3 +  in ⋅ H n  (1)
kv = average permeability perpendicular to
stratification

v = kv ⋅ i
Also,
v v v
i1 = i2 = i3 =
kv1 kv 2 kv 3
Replacing in eq. (1) H
kV =
v ⋅ H v ⋅ H1 v ⋅ H 2 v ⋅ H 3 v ⋅ Hn H1 H 2 H 3 H
= + + ++ + + ++ n
kV kV 1 kV 2 kV 3 kVn kV 1 kV 2 kV 3 kVn
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 Practice Problem #6 (contd…)

k H 1 ⋅ H1 + k H 2 ⋅ H 2 + k H 3 ⋅ H 3 +  + k Hn ⋅ H n
kH =
H

H
kV =
H1 H 2 H 3 H
+ + ++ n
kV 1 kV 2 kV 3 kVn

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Practice Problem #6 (contd…)

5
Practice Problem #6 (contd…)

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 Practice Problem #7
On close investigation of a sample it was found to
be in three layers 20mm, 60mm, and 40mm. The
permeability of these layers are 3x10-3mm/sec,
5x10-4mm/sec, and 17x10-4mm/sec respectively.
Find kH and kV, and the ratio kH/kV.
H
k ⋅ H + k ⋅ H + k H 3 ⋅ H 3 +  + k Hn ⋅ H n kV =
kH = H1 1 H 2 2 H1 H 2 H 3 H
H + + ++ n
kV 1 kV 2 kV 3 kVn

𝐾𝐾𝐻𝐻
= 1.65
𝐾𝐾𝑉𝑉
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Practice Problem #8

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Practice Problem #8

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SIGNIFICANCE OF SEEPAGE STUDIES
Failure of Teton Dam
Newly completed Teton Dam as it appeared in mid May 1976, as the
reservoir was filling at the rate of 3 feet per day.
The rate of filling is usually limited to no more than 1 foot per day.

Mid May 1976

Newly completed Teton Dam

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TETON DAM FAILURE Idaho, USA
Leakage was initially noted around 7:00 AM on Saturday June 5, 1976. This
view shows a dozer being sent down to fill in the hole at elevation 5200
around 10:45 AM.

June 5, 1976
10:45 am

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TETON DAM FAILURE Idaho, USA
The dozer is lost in the expanding hole, around 11:20 AM on June 5th.
Note turbid nature of outflow along the abutment.

June 5, 1976
11:20 am

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TETON DAM FAILURE Idaho, USA
Rapidly deteriorating situation as it appeared around 11:30 AM. A massive
hole has developed in the downstream face of the embankment and is
migrating upward.

June 5, 1976
11:30 am

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TETON DAM FAILURE Idaho, USA
The hole continues to enlarge and rise toward the crest of the right abutment.
This is about 11:50 AM.

June 5, 1976
11:50 am

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TETON DAM FAILURE Idaho, USA
Dam crest beginning to breach at 11:55 AM on Saturday June 5, 1976. Note
increasing discharge.

June 5, 1976
11:55 am

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TETON DAM FAILURE Idaho, USA
Maximum flood discharge emanating from gap in dam’s right abutment, just after noon
on June 5th , 1976.

June 5, 1976
After noon

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TETON DAM FAILURE Idaho, USA
Present day situation

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 OROVILLE DAM California, USA

Oriville Dam – Normal Operations

 The lake level is controlled using the main
spillway gate, which releases water down the
concrete spillway to get to the river below.
 The emergency spillway, which has a 30 ft
(9 m) high concrete wall at the top of a hill, is
unused.
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 OROVILLE DAM
Oriville Dam – Normal Operations
 The lake level is controlled using the main
spillway gate, which releases water down the
concrete spillway to get to the river below.
 The emergency spillway, which has a 30 ft
(9 m) high concrete wall at the top of a hill, is
unused.
California, USA
2005: Upgrade proposal rejected
Despite concerns that the emergency spillway
is vulnerable to erosion, a $100 million
request by community groups to upgrade it to
a concrete-lined auxiliary spillway is rejected
by the federal regulators
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 OROVILLE DAM FAILURE
7-Feb-2017: Main spillway fails
Craters appear in the main spillway. To avoid
increasing the damage to the spillway, water
releases are slowed allowing the lake to rise.
California, USA
11-Feb-2017: Emergency spillway used
Water flows over the emergency spillway
causing erosion and damage. This is by
design and prevents water going over the top
of the main dam. However the ground erodes
faster than expected.
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 OROVILLE DAM FAILURE
13-Feb-2017: Repairs made
Rocks and concrete (1) are placed under the
emergency spillway weir to repair erosion damage
(2). The release of water into the main spillway is
increased, to lower the lake in preparation for more
rain. This erodes the adjacent hillside considerably,
generating a debris dam (3) that blocks the river and
forces the closure of the hydroelectric plant.
California, USA
Potential risks
While the main 770 ft (230 m) dam is not
threatened, if the erosion on either spillway
reaches the top, it would cause the weir or
gate (respectively) to collapse, causing a large
uncontrolled water release and life-
threatening floods
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OROVILLE DAM FAILURE California, USA

Potential risks
While the main 770 ft (230 m) dam is not
threatened, if the erosion on either spillway
reaches the top, it would cause the weir or
gate (respectively) to collapse, causing a large
uncontrolled water release and life-
threatening floods
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 OROVILLE DAM FAILURE California, USA

March 2011 7-Feb-2017 27-Feb-2017

Damage to the main spillway began as a crater in the middle (center) and eventually resulted in a
separate channel eroded to the side (right). At left, the main spillway is shown in March 2011 while at
its maximum discharge rate. 24
REFERENCE MATERIAL
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering – (7th Edition)
Braja M. Das
Chapter #7 & 8

CONCLUDED

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