CE5101 Lecture 3

Seepage through Soils

by
Prof Harry Tan
31 Aug 2020

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 Outline
• Seepage Theory
• Potential and Stream Functions
• Flow Nets and FEM models
• Seepage through Dams and
Embankments
• Seepage in Anisotropic Soils
• Instability due to Seepage
• Seepage and Effective Stress

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 Seepage Theory – Continuity Equation

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 Seepage Theory – Continuity Equation

d

dx

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 Graphical Picture of Two Equations

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 Graphical Picture of Two Equations

Similarly, the head difference between any two

adjacent equipotentials is constant.

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 Graphical Picture of Two Equations

Comparing the two

equations, equipotentials
must be perpendicular to
flow lines

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 Properties of Flow Nets

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 Properties of Flow Nets

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 Flow Net Construction

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Flow Net Construction

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 Example 1 – Sheetpile Wall

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 Example 1 – Sheetpile Wall

= 8m
= 7m

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 Example 1 – Sheetpile Wall

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 Example 1 – Sheetpile Wall

= 16.7 m

HQ = 17.5 – 8.4*0.455
= 13.7 m

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 EX 1 – Plaxis Result

H=17.5m
H=12.5m

Hp=16.8m Hq=13.6m

Closed flow boundaries

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 EX 1 Plaxis Results

Total discharge = 15.4e-6 m3/s per m

Flownet q=14.1E-6 m3/s/m

FEM q=14.99E-6 m3/s/m

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 EX 1 Plaxis Results

Pp=88 kPa

Pq=66 kPa

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 Example 2 – Gravity Dam

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 Example 2 – Gravity Dam

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 Example 2 – Gravity Dam

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 EX 2 Plaxis Results

H=29m H=18m

Closed Flow

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 EX 2 Plaxis Results

FEM Total discharge=1.45E-4 m3/s per m

Flow net = 1.48E-4 m3/s per m

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 EX 2 Plaxis Results
Uplift pressures
89 kPa
33 kPa

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 Dams and Embankments

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 Dam Seepage Entry and Exit Boundary
Conditions

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 EX 3 Dam Seepage

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 EX 3 Dam Seepage

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 EX 3 Earth Dam

Global Water Level Settings

Closed Flow Drains

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 EX 3 Plaxis Results

Total discharge = 17.4E-6 m3/s per m

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 EX 3 Plaxis Results

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Horizontal flow in Stratified Soils

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Vertical flow in Stratified Soils

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 Ex 4 Flow in Stratified Soils

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 Flow Net in Anisotropic Soil

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 Flow Net in Anisotropic Soil

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Effects of Anisotrophy on Total Heads

Kx=Ky= 5.2E-5 m/s

H=29m H=18m

Kx=4Ky= 20.8E-5 m/s

H=29m
H=18m

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Effects of Anisotrophy on Total Discharge

H=29m
Kx=Ky= 5.2E-5 m/s

H=18m Total discharge

=1.45E-4 m3/s/m

H=29m
Kx=4Ky= 20.8E-5 m/s

H=18m

Total discharge
=3.63E-4 m3/s/m

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 Flow across Soil Interface

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 Piping Instability of Sheetpile Wall

D=d (same item)

hm
iavg 
Datum
d

hm

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 Piping Instability of Sheetpile Wall

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 Piping Instability of Sheetpile Wall
'
ic 
=im w
BUT Seepage force = i.γw. volume

Critical gradient divide by Applied gradient

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 Measures against Piping
Fill w’

 'd
hm w

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 Seepage and Effective Stress

Darcy’s law is v=ki (average seepage velocity or Darcy

velocity or apparent or superficial velocity)

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 Seepage and Effective Stress

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 Seepage and Effective Stress

Seepage force in soils is:

Fs  j.volume  i. w .volume

ie Seepage Force = Seepage Pressure x Volume

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 Quick condition and critical gradient

Since buoyant unit weight =

 '   sat   w

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Quick condition and critical gradient

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 EX 4 Effective Stress and Seepage

Determine effective stresses at A and B

hs=

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 (Total stress at A)
(Pore water pressures at A)
(Effective stress at A)

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 Seepage pressures at A= i. w
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  'A i.e.  ' A  hs  'i. w 

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