4/11/2011

Design of filter 4.7 Seepage Through Dams

• According to D15 Filter D Filter • The two dimensional flow of fluid
 4 to 5; 15 5  2  2
Terzaghi: D15 Base D85 Base through porous soil can be  0
x 2
y 2
expressed by Laplace’s Equation:
• According to USBR:
D15 Filter D Filter D85 Filter Graphically, the equation can be represented by two
 5; 5  15  40; 2 sets of curves known as ‘Equipotential line’ and
D15 Base D85 Base Max opening in pipe drain
‘stream lines’, that intersect at right angles. The
• D15 or D85 is the size at which 15 percent and 85 percent
combined representation of two sets of lines is called
(respectively) of the total soil particles are smaller. The
a flow net. With the help of a flow net, the seepage
percentage is by weight as determined by mechanical
problems can be analyzed at any point within the
analysis. If more than one filter layer is required; the same
criterion is followed; the finer filter is considered as the
section of the embankment.
base material for selection of the coarser filter. Equipotential line: a line formed by points having
equal pressure potential within the dam section.
• 5% of Filter material should not contain materials finer
Stream lines: are imaginary lines of flow path
than 0.075mm.
25 26

Δb
Equipotential
• Flow nets:
• Darcy’s equation: v = ki; where k is permeability (m/s) and i
(= Δh/Δl) is hydraulic gradient. The seepage flow q, through
a cross sectional area A is computed as; q = vA = kiA.
• In the flow net case: for a single net A = bX1 = b; q =
kbΔh/Δl, but Δh = H/Nd where Nd is the number of
equipotential drops.
• The total discharge per unit width Q = Nf(q) = NfkbH/(NdΔl);
however b≈Δl thus Q = kHNf/Nd
• Where Nf is the number of flow lines.
Δl Phreatic line
Flow
• The seepage or phreatic line may be defined as the line
within a dam section below which there are positive
hydrostatic pressures in the dam. On the line itself, the
hydrostatic pressure is zero. Above the line, there will
be a zone of capillary. The phreatic line represents the
top flow line or the boundary condition for drawing the
flow net.
• The location of the phreatic line is necessary in order
to draw accurately the flow net. It is also useful in
analyzing stability of the dam. It may be noted that the
location of the seepage line is dependent only on the
cross section of the dam. Its position is not influenced
by the permeability of the material composing the dam
as long as the material is homogeneous.
27 28

Stepwise procedure for locating phreatic line: Horizontal • Step 3: With centre A and radius AF, draw an arc to
AB≈0.3HB y
drainage H A B W
meet the extrapolated water surface line at W. Draw
Curve drawn the vertical line WD which is the directrix. Let FD, the
with center A focal distance = yo. Bisect the distance FD to get point
and radius AF C, the vertex of the parabola. Draw FJ parallel to WD
h
Directrix and equal to yo. Knowing A, J and C the basic parabola
J
can be drawn.
F C D • The focal distance yo can also be determined on the
x G b consideration that if (x, y) is one point on the parabola
Parabola shown extended having its origin at F
• Step 1: The horizontal distance between upstream toe G x 2  y 2  x  yo ;
and the point ‘B’ where water surface meets the upstream Since the point A(b, H) lies on the equation
face is calculated or measured (say L). The point A is then
located on the water surface at a distance 0.3 L from B. y0  b2  H 2  b
• Step 2: The basic parabola has to pass through A and have • Step 4: The ingress portion of phreatic line is
its focus at F which is the starting point of the horizontal
drainage. With these points known, the basic parabola may joined to the base parabola from point B, keeping
be constructed graphically. the starting end normal to the upstream face. 30
29

1
 4/11/2011

• Quantity of seepage: Darcy’s equation: v = ki; where k is L=54 7

permeability (m/s) and i is hydraulic gradient. The seepage A
2 2
flow q, through a cross sectional area A is computed as; q = vA H= 27 1 1 32
= kiA.
• When steady conditions have reached, the discharge crossing b 20
• Solution: q=kyo , but y0  b  H  b
2 2
any vertical plane across the dam section (unit width) will be
the same. Hence, i = dy/dx and A = y*1 = y. Thus q = ky(dy/dx) • b= 0.3*54 + 7 + 2*32 - 20 = 67.2; H = 27; yo = 5.22; q = 4 X
• But from the equation of the phreatic line: 10-6*5.22 =2.09 X 10-5m3/s/m
y  yo2  2 xyo • For the dam in the above example draw the phreatic line?

  2 y 
• Solution: The equation for a phreatic line will be:

q  k 0.5 yo2  2 xyo
 0.5
o yo2  2 xyo
y  yo2  2 xyo  27.25  10.44 x
q  kyo • Working out a few more points from the equation, the
• Example: A homogeneous earth dam having height 32 m, top parabola can be easily drawn and corrected for the curve at
width 7 m, u/s and d/s slope of 2:1 and a horizontal blanket of the upstream face of the dam, so as to get the seepage line.
20 m length is expected to retain a 27 m depth of water. If the
permeability of the dam section material is 4 X 10 -6 m/s, x -2.61 0 10 20 30 40 50 55 57.2
calculate the seepage flow through the dam. ANS. 2.09X10-5 y 0 5.22 11.47 15.36 18.45 21.09 23.43 24.52 27
m3/s/m 31 32

α Δa/(a+Δa) Directrix
30o 0.36
H A B • Phreatic line for a homogeneous
60o 0.32 dam with rock toe: the focus will
J be at upper end of the rock toe.
90o 0.26 h
The exit correction Δa is done as
K
α J
120o 0.18 K before. F
135o 0.14 α
150o 0.10
G
Parabola shown extended
F C D
• Phreatic line for zoned earth
180o 0.0 dam: the focus will be at the
• Phreatic line for a homogeneous dam without d/s blanket: toe of the central core. The
• AB = 0.3 L, L is the projection of the u/s wetted face. upstream shell is assumed to
• Here the focus (F) will be at the d/s toe be so pervious that its effect on J
αK
• The directrix is drawn at a horizontal distance of AF from A. the phreatic line is minimal. F
• Knowing A, F and directrix the base parabola can be drawn. The projected length L is for the
The base parabola could cut the d/s face at J. But the phreatic upstream slope of the core. The
line could not go beyond the d/s face . Thus an exit correction exit correction Δa is done as
Δa is used. Δa depends on the angle α (see the above table). before.
Note: Δa/(a+Δa) = yo/(1-cos α) 33 34

• Flow net for anisotropic soil: for isotropic soil the flow net
is orthogonal; however the flow net in case of anisotropic
soil is not orthogonal. Thus the two dimensional seepage A
flow equation is not a Laplace equation. As the 4.8 Stability analysis
permeability is different in the two directions. For example
in roller filled earth dams the horizontal permeability is B
usually greater than the vertical. Thus the seepage flow
equation in an isotropic soils will be:  2  2
kx  ky 0
x 2 y 2 • Pore water pressure in the dam:
• However this eqn. can be modified to work as Laplace • Suppose you are to find the pore pressure at B. Point A and
eqn. as: B lie on the same equipotential line. Thus the pore water
k x  2  2  2  2 pressure at these points is the same.
  0 let xt  x k y k x ;  0 • uB + ZB = uA + ZA; where ZA and ZB are the elevation of A and
k y x 2 y 2 xt
2
y 2
B above a certain datum; uB , uA are the pore pressures at A
• For example if kx = 4ky; xt = x/2; The section of the dam and B.
is transformed by halving the horizontal dimension. • Since point A is on the phreatic line the pressure is
Draw the flow net for the transformed section then atmospheric i.e. uA/ϒ = 0. Thus uB/ϒ + ZB = 0 + ZA
transfer the flow net back to the original section. • uB/ϒ = ZA – ZB (the vertical difference between A and B)
35 36

2
 4/11/2011

• Every soil mass which has slope at its end is subjected to • Swedish circle method: In this method, the curved slip
shear stresses on internal surfaces in the soil mass, near surface is taken to be an arc of circle with a certain centre.
the slope. This is due to the force of gravity which tries to There will be a number of such likely slip circles’ with their
pull down the portions of the soil mass, adjoining the slope. respective centers. It is necessary to pick up the most
• If the shearing resistance of the soil is greater than the dangerous (critical) slip circle i.e. that circle along which the
shearing stress induced along the most severely stressed or soil has the least shear resistance. The centre of this circle
critical internal surface, the slope will remain stable; is located by trial and error.
• If the shearing resistance of the soil, at any time after the • Below are shown methods of locating the critical slip circle
construction of the slope, becomes less than the induced in case of c-φ soils, assuming that the soil slope is of
shearing stress, the portion of soil mass between the slope homogeneous structure, i.e., it consists of one type of soil
and the critical internal surface will slide down along this only. O b
surface, until, the new slope formed by the sliding mass
P
makes the shearing stress less than the shearing strength of D 1 G
the soil. R 2 l5
3
• The stability of slopes of earth-structures thus depends on 4
the shear resistance or strength of the soil. 5 H Wn5
6 W5 ϴ
• The well known method of investigating stability of slope is V 7
Swedish method, devised by Swedish Engineers in 1922 Wt5
Figure A Figure B
which is simple, and therefore, is more commonly used.
37 38

• The shear strength of c-φ soil due to cohesion and
internal friction varies from point to point along the
slip circle. The equation for shear strength of this soil
is, S = cl + pn tanφ, kg/m2 where, c is cohesion of the
soil that is constant along the slip circle but pn, which is
the pressure normal to the slip circle due to weight of
soil, varies from point to point along the slip circle. l is
the length of the slip surface.
• Let VHP be the assumed slip circle with center O and
radius R:
• Divide the slip surface into vertical strips or slices as
shown in fig. A. the more the number of slices the
more accurate the analysis results. The width of the
strips, b, are usually kept constant.
• The fifth strip is taken for the study and is shown on a
bigger scale in Fig. B as an example.
39
• Taking one running meter of the strip, its equilibrium is
practically due to two forces only viz; its weight W5 and its
shearing strength S5 = cl5 + Pn tan φ along the curved surface
of length l5 in at the bottom of the strip. The weight W 5 is
equivalent to two forces, namely, Wn5 = W5 Cosϴ, and, the
tangential force Wt5 = W5 Sinϴ as shown in fig. B.
• Pn = W5 Cosϴ - U5; where U5 is the pore water pressure force
along the curved surface l5. for small width b, li ≈ bi Sec ϴ
thus Ui = ui b Sec ϴ; in which ui is the pore pressure.
• We will, therefore have the equation, S5 = cl5 + (Wn5 - U5 ) tan
φ; where, cl5 = cohesive strength per meter length of the strip
and Pn5 tan φ = frictional strength per meter length of the
strip. The moment of this shear strength about the center of
the slip circle is = RS5= R (cl5 + Pn5tanφ) and the moment of
shear strength along the entire slip surface VHP = ΣR (cli + Pni
tan φ). This moment is the resisting moment.
• The actuating moment along slip surface at bottom of the
strip is RWt5; and the actuating moment along the entire slip
surface PHV = ΣRWti
40

• The factor of safety, against shear failure, along slip surface • According to the Fellenius construction, the position of the line
PHV = resisting moment/actuating moment or, in general, on which the centre of the critical circle lies depends only on
the factor of safety FS, the height and slopes of the embankment. Referring to the
cL  tan   Pni figure, the values of α and β, are taken from the Table below
FS 
W ti
for the embankment slope. From point A and B these angles
are drawn to meet at point O1. Point O2 is then located at
• This factor of safety is found for each of other slip circles and horizontal distance of 4.5 H, starting directly below point A,
the critical circle is located by trial and error as having the and at a depth equal to H, the height of the embankment. The
minimum factor of safety. line joining O1 and O2 is the line on which the centre of the
• It should be carefully noted, that, the tangential components critical circle lies. The maximum depth to which the rupture
of the weights of the first few strips near the toe of the can occur is limited by the presence of hard stratum
slope, will resist the slipping tendency and these underneath.
Slope (H:V) α β
components must therefore, be taken with their proper sign. Line of center of
• The location of critical slip surface by trial and error entails O1 critical slip circle 1:1 27.5o 37o
much loss of time. To save time in locating the centre of β B
(Fellenius Line) 2:1 25o 32o
critical slip circle for homogeneous sections, Fellenius α H
construction, for locating the line on which the centre of the 3:1 25o 35o
A
critical circle is most likely to lie, is generally adopted. H 4:1 25o 36o
Various circles with center on this line are tried until the one O2
with minimum factor of safety is found. 4.5H 5:1 25o 37o
41 42

3
 4/11/2011

• Critical cases for analysis:
• 1. Reservoir drawdown: The upstream slope of the dam is
subjected to most adverse condition during sudden
drawdown. When sudden drawdown takes place, the water
pressure acting on the upstream slope is removed above
the drawdown level while the saturation line remains
higher. Since the drainage is not as rapid as the drawdown,
this means that the resisting forces are reduced in
comparison to actuating forces. Thus resisting forces are
calculated for submerged weight and the actuating forces
are calculated for the saturated weight of the material
below water surface.
• It has been observed for homogeneous section that
drawdown to an intermediate pool level usually presents a
more critical case than complete draw down. In all upstream
slope stability analysis, therefore, such a condition should be
tested. For each slip circle, the intermediate surface of the
pool is assumed to intersect the embankment slope directly
below the centre of the circle. This represents the worst
condition for assumed failure arc. 43
• 2. Steady Seepage Condition: The effect of seepage through
the embankment is to reduce embankment stability by
increasing the actuating forces and decreasing the resisting
forces. For the analysis of this condition, reservoir is assumed
to be at the full storage level in which case the phreatic line is
assumed to have fully developed. The upstream slope will be
subjected to water pressure from the reservoir while the rest
of dam will be subjected to pore pressure from the established
flow net. This condition is critical for the downstream slope
only.
• 3. ‘End of Construction’ Condition: Stability at the end of
construction is most critical for homogeneous embankments
constructed of plastic materials. Up on completion of the
embankment there would be construction pore pressure due
to consolidation of fill under the embankment load.
• 4. Earthquake: There is little experience on the performance of
earth dams shaken by earthquakes in seismically active
regions. Practice to account the horizontal acceleration caused
by earthquake is, however, a common practice in stability
computations for dams lying in seismic regions. 44

• It is recommended that applicable values of seismic Stability analysis example:

coefficient may be taken into account in stability Shell Core Foundation
computation for steady seepage conditions, while Saturated unit weight (KN/m3) 22 21 22
half of its values be adopted in case of sudden Submerged unit weight (KN/m3) 12 11 12
drawdown and end of construction conditions. Moist weight (KN/m3) 21 20 21
• Factor of safety: According to the U.S.B.R. practice Angle of internal friction φ(KN/m3) 30o 20o 30o
a factor of safety of 1.5 is adopted for all 3
O1 Cohesion (KN/m ) 10 60 10
conditions. The factor of safety as recommended by
U.S.B.R. are on higher side, High dams have
recently been designed with lower factor of safety b = 18
up to 1.25 for reservoir drawdown and end of 2 7
G
construction conditions. When under earthquake 52 1 6 Core 55
Shell l5
condition, factor of safety of unity is considered 1 2 3
4 5
adequate. W5 ϴ
Wn5
Foundation 55
Wt5
247.5 O2
45 46

• Solution: Draw the dam section with defined scale. Locate O 1

and O2 using Fellenius Method. Then divide the section in to 7 • Column 7: Find out ϴ (angle between vertical and normal;
equal parts (18 m width) (Column 1). left –ve; right +ve)
• For each slice in a trial slip surface determine the area of the • Column 8: the normal component of submerged weight =
section in the core, shell, and foundation. (Column 2, 3, and 4) 2.04 Cos ϴ
• Column 5: 80*22 + 90*21 + 0*22 (saturated slice weight) • Column 9: the tangential component of the saturated
• Column 6: 80*12 + 90*11 + 0*12 (submerged slice weight) weight = 3.74 Sin ϴ
• Column 10: from the given data φ is inserted for the slice
W W Pn * C*b* on which the slip surface lies.
o o
No. A (S) A (F) A (C) Sat Sub ϴ Pn Wt φ Tan φ C Sec φ
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 • Column 11: Column 8 * Tan φ
1 80 90 0 3.74 2.04 -23 1.88 -1.46 30 1.08 0.01 0.20 • Column 12: cohesion values for the slip surface within each
2 240 220 0 10.12 5.52 -15 5.33 -2.62 30 3.08 0.01 0.19 slice
3 400 200 0 13.2 7.2 0 7.20 0.00 30 4.16 0.01 0.18 • Column 13: The projection of the slice width (b) on the slip
4 560 200 0 16.72 9.12 14 8.85 4.04 30 5.11 0.01 0.19 surface multiplied by the cohesion
5 720 80 0 17.6 9.6 25 8.70 7.44 30 5.02 0.01 0.20 • Note: the stability analysis is not done based on reservoir
6 480 0 220 15.18 8.18 36 6.62 8.92 20 2.41 0.06 1.33 full condition rather it is done for sudden drawdown
7 40 0 300 7.18 3.78 55 2.17 5.88 20 0.79 0.06 1.88 condition as this is the worst condition in the stability of u/s
SUM 22.21 21.65 4.16 face of the dam. However the d/s slope stability is analyzed
FS = (4.16 + 21.65)/22.21 = 1.162 < 1.5 Not Safe !!
for steady seepage under full reservoir condition.
47 48