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SEEPAGE THROUGH SOIL

 Seepage is process in which liquid leaks through a porous medium from high head towards low head.
 Due to seepage many engineering problem arises like losses of water in reservoir, reduction in
effective weight, uplift pressure below dam, piping failure.
 To find the solution in 2-dimension we use flow net and Laplace equation.
d2 h d2 h
 Laplace Eq. or Continuity Eq is K x dx2 + K y dy2 = 0 for anisotropic soil.
d2 h d2 ℎ
 For isotropic soil K x = K y hence the laplace eqation or continuity equation is dx2 + dy2 = 0
 The general solution of Laplace equation yield two set of curve which are orthogonal to each other ,
one set of curve is known as flow lines and other set is known as equipotential lines.
 This Laplace equation governing two-dimensional steady state flow can be solved graphically,
analytically, numerically, or analogically.
 The Laplace equation is solved by boundary condition and boundary condition depends on type of
flow.
 There are two type of flow (a) Confined flow (b) Unconfined flow
 Confined Flow⟹ this is the flow in which all the boundaries are know (Ex. Flow under sheet pile of
Concrete Dam and Masonry Dam)
 Unconfined flow⟹ this is flow in which initially at least one boundaries is unknown. (Flow in earthen
dam)

Properties of Flow Net

1. Flow line is a line which indicates direction of flow of the

water particles. The solid line in Fig 1. Is flow line
2. Equipotential line is the line joining points of equal head. The
dotted line and AB &EF in Fig.1 is equipotential line
3. Both lines are orthogonal to each other in case of isotropic
soil.
4. The space between two adjacent lines is called flow channel
or flow path.
5. All flow channel are elementary squares. Fig.2
l1 l l
= b2 = b3
b1 2 3
6. Head loss through each successive equipotential line is
Fig.1 equal is equal. h2 − h1 = h3 − h2 = h4 − h3 = Δℎ = h/Nd
7. Discharge through each flow channel is constant.
𝐾Δℎ(𝑏1 )
Δ𝑞1 = Δ𝑞2 = Δ𝑞3 = 𝑙1
8. Flow net will not change if permeability of soil changes i.e
soil is changes but discharge will change.
9. Flow net will not change if head loss during flow is changed
but discharge will change.
10. Number of flow lines and number of flow channel depends
on boundary condition.

Fig.2

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Method of Obtaining Flow Net

1) Analytical Method⟹ the method discuss above i.e use of Laplace Equation.
2) Electrical Analong Method⟹ the darcy law governing the flow of water through soil is analogous to ohms law
governing the flow of current through conductors.
Darcy Law Ohm’s Law
ℎ 𝐸
𝑞 =𝑘∗ ∗𝐴 𝐼 =𝐶∗ ∗𝑎
𝑙 𝑙
q=quantity of seepage I= rate of flow of electricity
K= Coefficient of permeability C= electic conductivity coefficient
A=cross section area a= Cross sectional area
h=hydraulic head E=Electic 2otential
l=length of flow L=length of flow

Thus the seepage problem can be solved by electric method. The boundary or equipotential lines are made of
copper. The boundary flow lines are made of non conducting material like Perspex or ebonite.

3) Graphical Method⟹ Eq of flow net is drawn on Tracing Paper.

4) Capillary Flow Method⟹ a model of the dam is placed in between two glass plates which connect two small
tank, flow lines are traced visually by introducing dying at different places.
5) Sand Model Method⟹it gives visual demonstration of flow same as capillary flow method.

USE of FLOW NET

Nf
1. Total discharge Q = KH N ∗ b1 /l1
d
Where K is permeability of soil, H is total head through the flow net, Nf= number of equipotential channel
(Nf=No. of flow lines-1)
Nd= number of equpotential drop (Nd=No of equipotential drop-1)
b1 N
For flow net generally = 1 hence Q = KH N f
l1 d

b1 N
If = n than Q = KH N f ∗ n
l1 d

Nf
a. Hence, discharge depends on (a)Permeability (b). Head loss (c). Shape Factor
Nd
Δℎ
2. Hydraulic Gradient ⟹ where Δ h is head loss and l is the length of flow in which head loss has
𝐿
occurred.
3. Uplift pressure ⟹ ℎ = 𝐻 − Δℎ ∗ 𝑛 where H is total head loss, Δ h is head loss in each field and n is
the number of field in backward direction.

Example1.For the flow rate net shown in Fig.3:

How high would water rise if a piezometer is placed at

(i) A, (ii) B, (iii) C?

If K=0.01 mm/sec determine the seepage loss of the

dam in m3/(day.m)

. Fig.3
10
Solution. The maximum hydraulic head h is 10m. In Fig.3, 𝑁𝑑 = 12 (13 − 1) Δℎ = = 0.833
12

(i): For point A, water has to go through three potential drops. So head lost is equal to 3*0.833=2.5m. Hence the
elevation of the water level in the piezometer at A will be 10-2.5=7.5m above the ground surface.

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(ii): For point B water had to go through 5 potential drops, so head los is 5*0.833=4.165.Hence the elevation of the
water level in the piezometer at B will be 10-4.165=5.835m above the ground surface.

(iii): Points A and C are located on the same equipotential line. So water in a peizometer at C will rise to the same
elevation as at A, i.e 7.5m above the ground surface.

N 0.01mm 0.01 0.864m

The seepage loss is given by Q = KH N f 𝑘= = (1000) ∗ 60 ∗ 60 ∗ 24 =
d sec day
5 3.6m3
From Fig.3, Nf = 5, Nd = 12 Q = 0.864 ∗ 10 ∗ 12 = .m
day

Condition Adjacent to Sheet Pile

 High upward hydraulic gradient may be experienced in soil adjacent to
downstream face of a sheet pile. Failure is likely to occur with in a soil
mass of approximate dimension of D x D/2 adjacent to sheet pile as
shown in figure.4

Factor of safety with respect to boiling & heaving are as follows:- A B

1. Average total head on CD =hm and Total head on AB=0 so head loss
between AB and CD =hm
hm
Average hydraulic gradient = = im if ic =
d
critical hyraulic gradient C
D
Factor of Safety = icr /im

2. Exit hydraulic gradient at AB 𝑖𝑒 = Δℎ/Δ𝑠 where Δ h is head loss

between equipotenial line and Δs is dimension of flow net.
Factor of Safety =icr /ie
Fig.4
3. If surcharge load “W” in terms of filters is added
Factor of Safety = (γsub d + W)/hm γw

Hydraulic Heave or Piping

Many dams on soil foundations have failed because of the sudden formation of a piped shaped discharge
channel. As the store water rushes out, the channel widens and catastrophic failure results. This results from
erosion of fine particles due to water flow. This is often referred to as piping failure

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Example2. A flow net for seepage under a sheet pile wall is shown in Fig.5 γsat = 20KN/m3 . Determine the
effective stress at A and B. It is given that number of equipotential drop at A is 3.8 and that at B is 8.5. There are
12 equipotential drop between upstream and downstream face of sheet pilewall. Determine values of effective
vertical stress at A and B.

Solution ⟹ total stress at A 4γw + 11γsat = 4.8*9.81 + 11*20 = 259.24KN/m2

Number of equipotential drop up to A=3.8 Total Drop=12

3.8
head loss up to A= ∗ 8=2.533m
12

Writing energy equation between upstream end “K” and point “A”
u uA
0 + 8 − (−7 + γ A ) = 2.533 ⟹ = 12.467
w γw

𝑜𝑟 𝑢𝐴 = 122.17 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2
Fig.5
Hence effective stress at “A” =σA − uA = 259.24 − 122.17 = 137.06 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2

𝑢𝐵 8.5
Similarly, writing energy equation between upstream water level and point “B” (8 + 0) − (−7 + )= ∗8
γw 12

uB = 9.33 ∗ 9.8 = 91.46 KN/m2 Effective stress at B=1*9.8+6*20-91.46=38.28 𝐾𝑁/𝑚2 Ans

Example3. In the above problem find Factor of Safety against heave failure adjacent to downstream face of sheet
pile. The number of equipotential drop up to sheet pile is 7.

Solution The Factor of Safety against heave F. O. S = ic /im

im = hm /6 ,
Fig.6
where hm is average loss between CB to d/s water level

7 5 3.5
head remaining at C= 8 − ∗ 8 = 12 ∗ 8 head remaining at B= 12 ∗ 8
12

5 3.5
Average head= (12 ∗ 8 + 12 ∗ 8) ∗ 1/2 = 2.833

2.833 20−9.81 1.03

im = = 0.472 and ic = =1.03 ⟹ F.O.S=0.472 = 2.2 Ans
6 9.81

Example4. A single row of sheet pile is driven up to a depth of 4m. In a Bed of clean sand having co-efficient of
permeability K=.002cm/sec. An impermeable layer of very stiff clay exists at a depth of 10m below the Ground
level as shown in Fig.6 Determine (i) the quanitity of seepage loss considering unit width of the sheet pile. (ii)
The piezometric heads at the points A,B,C, D, E. (iii) the exit gradient (iv) Factor of safety against piping . Given
G=2.67 and e=0.95. the average length of flow element is 1.1m

Solution Given K=0.002cm/sec = 1.728m/day

Head loss = 4-0.5=3.5 Nf = 7 Nd = 12

Nf
(i) Q = KH = 1.72*3.5*(7/12)=3.53 m3/day Ans
Nd
(ii) Initial piezometric head at the ground level on upstream
side 4m
4−0.5
Head drop between two equipotential line= =
12
0.2917m Fig.7

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No. of head drop at the point A =3 ⟹ Head loss at A= 3*0.2917=0.875m ,
Head remaining at A=4-0.875=3.15m
Similarly for B, 4-5*0.2917=2.542m, for D, (4-10*0.2917)=1.083m for E, 4-10*0.2917=1.083m Ans

For point C, Average head drop = (7+8)/2=7.5, piezometric head at C = 4-(7.5*0.2917) = 1.812m

Δℎ 0.2917
(iii) Length of last flow element is 1.1m Exit gradient 𝑖𝑐 = = = 0.265
𝑙 1.1
2.67−1 i 0.856
(iv) The Critical Hydraulic Gradient ic = 1+0.95 = 0.856 F.O.S against Piping = ic = 0.265 = 3.23 Ans
e

Unconfined Flow ⇒ Unlike concrete dam, in earthen dam water flows inside the dam, Hence it is necessary to
calculate the seepage using flow net, but top boundary of flow line is not clear even though geometrical boundaries of
the pervious soil mass is known to us.

 Sketching of top flow line (Phreatic line) is the first step in the
drawing of flow net for seepage under Unconfined flow.
 Phreatic line is the top most line and is at atmospheric pressure.
 Phreatic line is neither a flow line nor a equipotential line.
 The shape of a phreatic line is parabolic.
 The start and exist of the phreatic line depend on the slope of
the upward slope and downward slope of earthen dam.
 The phreatic line start inside the water level at a distance of
0.3Δ as shown in Fig.9 Fig.8
 the discharge through the earthen dam is given by q=KS where S is distance between focus and Directex as
shown in Fig.9

Fig.9 Fig.10

Seepage in Anisotropic Soil

 For Anisotropic soil K x ≠ K Y thus, equipotential line is drawn by changing either x-dimension or y dimension
and finding the new coefficient of Permeability.
N
 Equivalent Permeability K ′ = √K x ∗ K Y and Discharge 𝑞 = √𝐾𝑥 ∗ 𝐾𝑌 ∗ H N f
d

KY
 The new transformed ‘x’ dimension or ‘x’ Scale will be x ′ = x ∗ √K OR
x

K
 New transformed ‘z’-dimension or ‘z’ Scale will be z ′ = z ∗ √ KY only change one dimension either x or z.
z

Flow Through Non Homogeneous Section

The flow-net construction technique is for the condition where the subsoil is homogeneous. Rarely in nature
do such ideal conditions occur; in most cases, we encounter stratified soil deposits such as those shown in
Fig10. When a flow net is constructed across the boundary of two soils with different permeability’s, the
flow net deflects at the boundary. This is called a transfer condition. Fig.10 shows a general condition where
a flow channel crosses the boundary of two soils. Soil layers 1 and 2 have permeability is of
𝐾1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐾2 respectively. The broken lines drawn across the flow channel are the equipotential lines.

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𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝐾1

Fig.11

Example5. of the construction of a flow net for a dam section resting on

a two-layered soil deposit is given in Fig.11 K1 =5∗
10−2 mm mm
and K 2 = 2.5 ∗ 10−2 . In soil layer 1, the flow elements
s s
are plotted as squares, what is the ratio of length to width ratio of the
flow elements in the soil layer 2.

Fig.11

Solution

5∗10−2 b2 /l2 b2
= = = 0.5
2.5∗10−2 1 l2
l2
or length of width ratio is = 2 in soil layer 2 Ans
b2

Prevention of Erosion

1. Control of seepage and Seepage Flow:- By providing cut off wall, increasing flow path by providing
impervious blanket.
2. Use of Protective Filter:- A protective filter consist of one or more layer of coarse grained material placed
over a less previous soil called base.
 A filter is designed is such a way that it prevent migration of finer particles into the voids of coarse
particles with free flow of water
 The voids in the filter should be small than the largest size particle of the protected base, so that
the smallest grain of the protected base can’t enter into the filter and obstruct the flow of
𝐷15 (𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟)
water. < 5 this governs the upper limit of grain size of filter material
𝐷85 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑀𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙)
 On the other hand, if voids are too small, seepage forces are likely to develop to unacceptable
D15 (Filter)
level. Hence, both situation should be avoided. 4 <D < 20 it ensure
85 (Protected Material)
sufficient head loss in filter without build up of seepage pressure . (Specifies lower limit of material
D50 (Filter)
 < 25 Additional guideline.
D50 (Protected Material)

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