SOLMEC 414 – SOIL MECHANICS 4.

4. The equipotential lines intersect acd and fg at right Sample Problem 2: Two sheet piles were driven 4.0 m apart
1st SEM. A.Y. 2022 – 2023 angles. into clayey sand and a 2 m depth of soil between the two
sheet piles were removed. To facilitate some construction
CHAPTER 8: SEEPAGE Seepage from a flow net can be given by works, the region between the sheet piles is being
dewatered where the water level is lowered to the
Nf 
A. FLOW NETS q = kH  
 excavation level by pumping out water continuously.
A combination of a number of flow lines and  Nd  Assuming the coefficient of permeability of the clayey sand
equipotential lines is called a flow net. It is constructed to where q = flow rate per unit length as k = 2 × 10-4 cm/sec, estimate the quantity of water that
calculate the ground water flow and the evaluation of heads k = hydraulic conductivity has to be pumped out per meter length per day.
in the media. To complete the graphic construction of a H = head difference between the upstream and the
flow net, flow line and equipotential lines are drawn in such downstream sides.
a way that: Nd = number of potential drops
a. The equipotential lines intersect the flow lines at right Nf = number of flow channels
angles. For anisotropic soil
b. The flow elements formed are approximate squares Nf 
q = k x k z H  

 Nd 
Sample Problem 1: A flow net for flow around a single row of
sheet piles in a permeable soil layer is shown in the figure.
Given that kx = kz = 5 × 10-3 cm/sec, determine
a. How high (above the ground surface) the water will
rise if peizometers are placed at points a, b, c and d.
b. Total rate of seepage through the permeable layer
per unit length.

Boundary conditions: B. SEEPAGE THROUGH AN EARTH DAM ON AN

1. The upstream and downstream surfaces of the IMPERVIOUS BASE
permeable layer (lines ab and de) are equipotential Figure shows a homogenous compacted earth dam
lines. resting in an impervious base with a hydraulic conductivity
2. Because ab and de are equipotential lines, all the flow equal to k. Seepage is given by
lines intersect them at right angles. q = kL tan  sin 
3. The boundary of the impervious layer – that is, line fg
– is a flow line, and so is the surface of the impervious where
d d2 H2
sheet pile, line acd. L= − −
cos  cos 2  sin 2 
 a. Determine the uplift pressure at corner a and f.
b. Determine the uplift force per unit length of the axis of
the weir.

Sample Problem 3: The cross section of an earth dam is

shown in the figure. Calculate the seepage rate through the
dam.

C. UPLIFT PRESSURE UNDER HYDRAULIC

STRUCTURES
Flow nets can be used to determine the uplift
pressure at the base of a hydraulic structure. The concept
can be demonstrated by the example shown.

Sample Problem 4: A weir of base, 2 m below the ground

surface, with necessary flow net is drawn.