Flow Nets

Flow Net Theory

1. The boundary condition must be satisfied.
2. Flow lines Y and Equip. lines  are .
3. Grids are curvilinear squares, where
diagonals cross at right angles
4. The quantity of flow through each flow
channel is constant.

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Flow Net in Isotropic Soil
Portion of a flow net is shown below

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 Flow Net in Isotropic Soil
The equation for flow nets originates from
Darcy’s Law.

Flow Net solution is equivalent to solving the

governing equations of flow for a uniform
isotropic aquifer with well-defined boundary
conditions.

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 Flow Net in Isotropic Soil
Flow through a channel between
equipotential lines 1 and 2 per unit
width is:
∆q = K(dm x 1)(∆h1/dl)

n
F1
m F2
Dq F3

Dq Dh1
Dh2
dm
dl

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 Flow Net in Isotropic Soil
Substitution yields:

 ∆q = K(dm x dl)(H/n)

This equation is for one flow channel. If there

are m such channels in the net, then total flow
per unit width is:

 q = (m/n)K(dm/dl)H

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Flow Net in Isotropic Soil
Anisotrophic:

q = kH (Nf /Nd) Nf
qH k xK z
Nd
where:
 q = rate of flow or seepage per unit width
 Nf or m= number of flow channels
 Nd or n = number of equipotential (pressure) drops
 H = head
 k = hydraulic conductivity

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 Drawing Method:
1. Draw to a convenient scale the cross
sections of the structure, water elevations,
and aquifer profiles.

2. Establish boundary conditions and draw one

or two flow lines Y and equipotential lines F
near the boundaries.

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 Method:
3. Sketch intermediate flow lines and equipotential
lines by smooth curves adhering to right-angle
intersections and square grids. Where flow
direction is a straight line, flow lines are an equal
distance apart and parallel.

4. Continue sketching until a problem develops. Each

problem will indicate changes to be made in the
entire net. Successive trials will result in a
reasonably consistent flow net.

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 Method:
5. In most cases, 5 to 10 flow lines are usually
sufficient. Depending on the no. of flow lines
selected, the number of equipotential lines
will automatically be fixed by geometry and
grid layout.

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Seepage Under Dams
Flow nets for
seepage through
earthen dams
Seepage under
concrete dams
Uses boundary
conditions (L & R)
Requires curvilinear
square grids for
solution
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- End -

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 Flow Nets: an example
 A dam is constructed on a permeable stratum underlain
by an impermeable rock. A row of sheet pile is installed
at the upstream face. If the permeable soil has a
hydraulic conductivity of 150 ft/day, determine the rate of
flow or seepage under the dam.

The flow net is drawn with: m = 5 n = 17 13

 Flow Nets: the solution
Solve for the flow per unit width:

q = (m/n) K H

= (5/17)(150)(35)

= 1544 ft3/day per ft

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 Flow Nets: An Example
There is an earthen dam 13 meters
across and 7.5 meters high. The
Impounded water is 6.2 meters deep,
while the tail water is 2.2 meters deep.
The dam is 72 meters long. If the
hydraulic conductivity is 6.1 x 10-4
centimeter per second, find the total flow
under the dam in cu.m. per day if m=6
and n = 21

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 Flow Nets: the solution
K = 6.1 x 10-4cm/sec = 0.527 m/day
From the flow net, the total head loss, H, is
6.2 -2.2 = 4.0 meters.
There are 6 flow channels (m) and 21 head drops
along each flow path (n):

Q = (KH m/n) x dam length

= (0.527 m/day x 4m x 6 / 21) x (dam length)
= 0.60 m3/day per m of dam

= 43.4 m3/day for the entire 72-meter length of the

dam 16
Flow Nets Problem Exercise

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 The complete flow net for dam shown includes a steel
sheet pile cut-off wall located at the head-water side of the dam
in order to reduce the seepage loss. The dam is half a kilometer
in width (shore to shore) and the permeability of the silty sand
stratum is 3.5 x10-4 cm/s. Find the total flow under the dam in
liters per year.

6m
2m

10 m

17m