CIVL 3730 Fundamentals of Geotechnics i Summary: The equation of continuity tells us Og 5 He «9 cz Ox For steady incompressible flow in an isotropic medium (k, = k, =k), the equation of continuity render following three Laplace’s equations. ex? dx? ab 0) 4 at a? C OZ an oh, 2? ex? The equations (x, z) and (x, z) represents a family of orthogonal curves, equipotential line and flow line. The total head is the same along one equipotential line, and the water particle travel along the flow line. The direction of v is in the direction of decreasing total head. The head difference between two equipotential lines is called a potential drop or head loss. A family of flow lines and equipotential lines assemble the flow net. Since flow lines are normal to equipotential lines, there can be no flow across flow lines. The rate of flow between any two flow lines is constant. The area between two flow lines is called a flow channel. Therefore, the rate of flow is constant in a flow channel.