Flow through Soils

2D flow
Vel. vectors are confined to a single plane 1D flow 2D flow vel vectors parallel vel vectors not necessarily parallel
wall

soil

Laplaces Equation
1D flow
x

- Darcys law

2D flow

- Laplaces equation

vz
z

dx

vx
dz

v x vx + dx x

vz +

vz dz z

Rate of in vel in z-dir

Laplaces Equation
Laplaces equation represents energy loss through any resistive medium Assumptions Darcy is valid Degree of saturation = S = 100% is of constant volume Isotropic kx = kz k = same throughout

Homogeneous

Remember main point = get Q

Examples Q beneath a dam
2 2

Q in excavations

Solving

h h + 2 =0 2 x z
Graphical

Mathematics

Flownets

Flownets
wall

Flowline

Equipotential line
impervious

Flowpath channel between two flowlines Equipotential line along any eqpl, the total head is the same

Flownets
1st eqpl: starts in inlet last eqpl: ends at outlet
Of soil

1st eqpl

last eqpl

Impervious / Impermeable layer

Flownets

vel node

eqpl

Requirements: Perpendicular crossings at nodes Maintain squareosity

Flownets

Mistake redraw!

Flownets - Example

L = 100 m
14m

2m 2m 10m A B

k = .1 cm/s

Flownets - Example
h = 14 2 = 12 m h at first eq = 24 m h at last eq = 12 m NFP = 3 NED = 12 Q = h L k (NFP/NED) Q = 0.3 m3/sec

Flownets - Example

h at first eq = 24 m Head loss per drop = h/NED = 12 / 12 = 1 m he at A = 8 m h at A = 24 8 = 16 m hp at A = h he = 16 8 = 8 m uA = (hp)(w) = 78.5 kPa

Flownets - Example

h at first eq = 24 m Head loss per drop = h/NED = 12 / 12 = 1 m he at B = 10 m h at B = 24 9 = 15 m hp at B = h he = 15 10 = 5 m uB = (hp)(w) = 49 kPa

Uplift pressures

Concrete dam

= W/A

uuplift

If uuplift ~ , structure can float away!

Uplift Pressures
Case 1 (no flow) u = (hp)(w) = uhydrostatic Case 2 (with flow) Draw flownet Compute h at several points along the structures base Determine hp at these points Find u at these points by u = (hp)(w)