Flow Nets

Flow through a Dam

Phreatic line

Unsaturated
Soil Drainage
blanket

z Flow of water

2h 2h
x  2 0
x 2
z
 Graphical representation of solution

1. Equipotentials Lines of constant head, h(x,z)

Equipotential (EP)
 Graphical representation of solution

2. Flow lines Paths followed by water particles -

tangential to flow

Phreatic line

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)
Properties of Equipotentials

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)

h(x,z) = constant (1a)

 Properties of Equipotentials

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)

h(x,z) = constant (1a)

h h
Thus: dx  dz  0 (1b)
x z
 Properties of Equipotentials

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)

h(x,z) = constant (1a)

h h
Thus: dx  dz  0 (1b)
x z
 dz  h / x
Equipotenial slope  dx    h / z (1c)
EP
 Properties of Flow Lines
z
x
Geometry

Flow line (FL)

vz
vx
Equipotential (EP)
Kinematics

dx vx
From the geometry
dz  (2b)
FL vz
 Properties of Flow Lines
z
x
Geometry

Flow line (FL)

vz
vx
Equipotential (EP)
Kinematics

dx vx
From the geometry
dz  (2b)
FL vz
h h
Now from Darcy’s law vx  k vz  k
x z
 Properties of Flow Lines
z
x
Geometry

Flow line (FL)

vz
vx
Equipotential (EP)
Kinematics

dx vx
From the geometry
dz  (2b)
FL vz
h h
Now from Darcy’s law vx  k vz  k
x z

dx h x
  
Hence dzFL h z (2c)
Orthogonality of flow and equipotential lines

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)

 dz  h / x
On an equipotential  dx    h / z
EP

dx h x
On a flow line   
dzFL h z
Orthogonality of flow and equipotential lines

Flow line (FL)

Equipotential (EP)

 dz  h / x
On an equipotential  dx    h / z
EP

dx h x
On a flow line   
dzFL h z

dx dx
Hence      1 (3)
dzFL dzEP
 Geometric properties of flow nets

h+h Y
h

Z FL
h+2h
T
EP

t X Q
y
X
FL
z

Q
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q
h+h Y v (4a)
h yx

Z FL
h+2h
T
EP

t X Q
y
X
FL
z

Q
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q
h+h Y v (4a)
h yx
From Darcy’s law
Z FL
h+2h h
T vk (4b)
EP zt
t X Q
y
X
FL
z

Q
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q
h+h Y v (4a)
h yx
From Darcy’s law
Z FL
h+2h h
T vk (4b)
EP zt
t X Q Combining (4a)&(4b)
y
X
FL Q yx
 (4c)
z kh zt

Q
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q
h+h Y v (4a)
h yx
From Darcy’s law
Z FL
h+2h h
T vk (4b)
EP zt
t X Q Combining (4a)&(4b)
y
X
FL Q yx
 (4c)
z kh zt
Similarly
Q Q YX (4d)

kh ZT
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q
h+h Y v (4a)
h yx
From Darcy’s law
Z FL
h+2h h
T vk (4b)
EP zt
t X Q Combining (4a)&(4b)
y
X
FL Q yx
 (4c)
z kh zt
Conclusion Similarly
Q yx YX Q YX
 (5)  (4d)
zt ZT kh ZT
 Geometric properties of flow nets

Q B

h)
EP( h
Q C

FL D

d A
b EP ( h + 
hh)
a
c
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q B Q (6a)
v
cd
h)
EP( h
Q C

FL D

d A
b EP ( h + 
hh)
a
c
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q B Q (6a)
v
cd
h)
EP( h From Darcy’s law
Q C
h (6b)
FL D vk
ab
d A
b EP ( h + 
hh)
a
c
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q B Q (6a)
v
cd
h)
EP( h From Darcy’s law
Q C
h (6b)
FL D vk
ab
d A
Combining (6a)&(6b)
b EP ( h + 
hh)
a Q cd
c  (6c)
kh ab

Similarly
Q CD
 (6d)
kh AB
 Geometric properties of flow nets
From the definition of flow
Q B Q (6a)
v
cd
h)
EP( h From Darcy’s law
Q C
h (6b)
FL D vk
ab
d A
Combining (6a)&(6b)
b EP ( h + 
hh)
a Q cd
c  (6c)
kh ab
Conclusion
Similarly
cd CD
 Q CD
ab AB  (6d)
kh AB
 Geometric properties of flow nets

• When drawing flow nets by hand it is most

convenient to draw them so that

• Each flow tube carries the same flow Q

• The head drop between adjacent EPs, h, is the
same

• Then the flow net is comprised of “SQUARES”

 Geometric properties of flow nets
Demonstration of ‘square’ rectangles with inscribed circles
 Drawing Flow Nets

To calculate the flow and pore pressures in the ground a

flow net must be drawn.

The flow net must be comprised of a family of orthogonal

lines (preferably defining a square mesh) that also satisfy
the boundary conditions.
 Common boundary conditions
a. Submerged soil boundary - Equipotential

Water
H-z
H uw
h  z
w
z
(7)
Datum
 Common boundary conditions
a. Submerged soil boundary - Equipotential

Water
H-z
H uw
h  z
w
z now
uw   w ( H  z) (7)
Datum
 Common boundary conditions
a. Submerged soil boundary - Equipotential

Water
H-z
H uw
h  z
w
z now
uw   w ( H  z) (7)
Datum so
( H  z)  w
h  z H
w
 Common boundary conditions
b. Impermeable soil boundary - Flow Line

Permeable Soil
vn=0
Flow Line
vt

Impermeable Material
 Common boundary conditions
c. Line of constant pore pressure - eg. phreatic surface

uw
Head is given by h  z
 w
 Common boundary conditions
c. Line of constant pore pressure - eg. phreatic surface

uw
Head is given by h  z
 w

u w
and thus h   z
w
 Common boundary conditions
c. Line of constant pore pressure - eg. phreatic surface

uw
Head is given by h  z
 w

u w
and thus h   z
w

now if pore pressure is

constant u w  0
 Common boundary conditions
c. Line of constant pore pressure - eg. phreatic surface

uw
Head is given by h  z
 w

u w
and thus h   z
w

now if pore pressure is

constant u w  0

and hence h  z (8)

 Common boundary conditions
c. Line of constant pore pressure - eg. phreatic surface
 Procedure for drawing flow nets
• Mark all boundary conditions

• Draw a coarse net which is consistent with the

boundary conditions and which has orthogonal
equipotentials and flow lines. (It is usually easier to
visualise the pattern of flow so start by drawing the
flow lines).

• Modify the mesh so that it meets the conditions

outlined above and so that rectangles between
adjacent flow lines and equipotentials are square.

• Refine the flow net by repeating the previous step.

 Value of head on equipotentials
H

h (9)
Nu
mbe
rofp
ot
ent
iald
ro
ps

Phreatic line

15 m

Datum
h = 15m h=0

h = 3m
h = 12m h = 9m h = 6m
 Calculation of flow
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0

h = 3m
h =12m h = 9m h = 6m

For a single Flow tube of width 1m: Q = k h (10a)

 Calculation of flow
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0

h = 3m
h =12m h = 9m h = 6m

For a single Flow tube of width 1m: Q = k h (10a)

For k = 10-5 m/s and a width of 1m Q = 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m (10b)

 Calculation of flow
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0

h = 3m
h =12m h = 9m h = 6m

For a single Flow tube of width 1m: Q = k h (10a)

For k = 10-5 m/s and a width of 1m Q = 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m (10b)

For 5 such flow tubes Q = 5 x 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m (10c)

 Calculation of flow
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0

h = 3m
h =12m h = 9m h = 6m

For a single Flow tube of width 1m: Q = k h (10a)

For k = 10-5 m/s and a width of 1m Q = 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m (10b)

For 5 such flow tubes Q = 5 x 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m (10c)

For a 25m wide dam Q = 25 x 5 x 10-5 x 3 m3/sec (10d)

 Calculation of flow
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0

h = 3m
h =12m h = 9m h = 6m

For a single Flow tube of width 1m: Q = k h (10a)

For k = 10-5 m/s and a width of 1m Q = 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m (10b)

For 5 such flow tubes Q = 5 x 10-5 x 3 m3/sec/m (10c)

For a 25m wide dam Q = 25 x 5 x 10-5 x 3 m3/sec (10d)

H
Note that per metre width Q k Nf (10e)
Nh
 Calculation of pore pressure
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0
5m
P

h = 3m
h = 12m h = 9m h = 6m

5m uw
Pore pressure from Ph z (11a)
w
 Calculation of pore pressure
Phreatic line
15 m

h = 15m h=0
5m
P

h = 3m
h = 12m h = 9m h = 6m

5m uw
Pore pressure from Ph z (11a)
w
At P, using dam base
as datum u w  [12  ( 5)]  w (11b)
Example Calculating Pore Pressures

20 m

StrandedVessel

WaterSupply

Soft SeaBottom 10 m
ReactionPile
WellPoint
Step 1: Choose a convenient datum. In this example the sea
floor has been chosen

Then H1 = 40 m
H2 = 1 m.

The increment of head, h = 39/9 = 4.333 m

A B C DE

Step 2: Calculate the head at points along the base of the vessel. For
convenience these are chosen to be where the EPs meet the
vessel (B to E) and at the vessel centerline (A). Hence
calculate the pore water pressures.

At B Head = H1 - 5 h = H2 + 4 h = 18.33 m

Pore pressure at B u w  [ h  ( z )]  w = 18.33  = 179.8 kPa

w
Step 3: Calculate the upthrust (Force/m) due to pore pressures

Distance from centreline (m )

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0
Pore Water Pressure (kPa)

50

100

150

200

250

 201.1  179.8   179.8  137.3   137.3  94.9   94.9  52.3  

2   5     2.5     1. 8     0.7 
 2   2   2   2  
= 3218 kN/m

Without pumping Upthrust = 20  1  9.81 = 196 kN/m

Upthrust due to Pumping = 3218 – 196 = 3022 kN/m

 N
f  14 2 3

F
lo
w r
equ
ir
ed,Qk 
H =3 4
10   
39 1.810 m/m
/s
ec
N
h 9
 Nothing Impossible in our Planet
• Sign of True Love