FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

Soil Mechanics (ECG426)

EXERCISE 2B

Flow of Water in Soils II

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this exercise the students should be able to :
(i)
(ii)
(iii)

Define term related to seepage and flow nets,

Construct flow nets for a given water retaining structures, and
Determine the quantity of seepage.

QUESTION 1
(a)

What is a flow net? Describe clearly how a flow net is used to estimate the quantity of
seepage loss through an earth embankment or through the soil below a concrete dam.
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(6 marks)

(b)

Figure Q1 shows the sketch of a flow net below a concrete dam retaining 10 m height of
water. The soil below the dam is made up of stiff clay of permeability 2.65 x10-6 m/s. The
width of the dam is 30 m. The thickness of the soil layer is 20 m and the concrete dam is
embedded 2 m into the soil layer. The length of the sheet pile below the concrete dam is
7 m. Based on the flow net drawn:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)

Determine the quantity of seepage through the soil below the concrete dam,
Determine the pore pressures underneath the dam at points X, Y and Z, where the
respective distances from the sheet pile are 0, 15 and 28 m, and
Sketch the uplift pressure distribution below the dam.

(CO4-PO3) (C3-C4)
(14 marks)

FIGURE Q1

IMPERVIOUS STRATUM

QUESTION 2
(a)

What is the governing equation for two-dimensional flow and what are the methods
adopted for its solution for practical problems?
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(5 marks)

(b)

Details of cross-section of a concrete dam founded on an isotropic layer of silty sand

overlying impermeable shale are shown in Figure Q2 below. Estimate the seepage
quantity under the dam when a sheet pile is installed at the heel of the dam as shown.
(CO2-PO1) (C3-C4)
(11 marks)
20 m

10 m
1m
1m
6.0 m
14 m
Permeability k = 7.5 x 10-5 m/s

Impermeable shale
DIAGRAM SHOWN IS NOT TO SCALE

(c)

FIGURE Q2

What practical solutions could you adopt to the above system to decrease the quantity of
seepage? Explain the logic of your suggestions.
(CO4-PO3) (C5-C6)
(4 marks)

QUESTION 3
(a)

Explain the terms permeability, quick condition and critical hydraulic gradient. List out six
factors which affect the permeability value.
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(7 marks)

(b)

With the aid of a suitable sketch, derive the expression for permeability for fine soils
using the falling head apparatus.
(CO4-PO1) (C3-C4)
(8 marks)

(c)

In a falling-head permeability test the following data were recorded:

Internal diameter of permeameter
Length of sample
Internal diameter of standpipe
Initial level in standpipe
Level in standpipe after 15 min.

=
=
=
=
=

75 mm
120 mm
4.20 mm
700 mm
240 mm

Using the expression obtained in (b), determine the permeability of the soil.
(CO4-PO1) (C3-C4)
(5 marks)

QUESTION 4
(a)

Define the terms flow lines and equipotential lines. What are the practical uses of a flow
net?
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(5 marks)

(b)

An isotropic homogeneous earth dam without a toe filter sits on an impervious layer of
soil as shown in Figure Q4 below. Draw the top flow line for the flow of water through
the dam and then sketch the flow net across the dam. Hence calculate the quantity of
seepage per day per metre length of the dam if the coefficient of permeability, k, of the
soil is 6.5 x 10-6 m/s.
(CO2-PO1) (C3-C4)
(15 marks)

8m
3
2
24 m
26 m

EARTH DAM

IMPERVIOUS STRATUM

FIGURE Q4

Prepared by
Assoc. Prof. Abd. Rahman Mahamood, UiTM, Shah Alam
Version 3.0, March 2013