Seepage Analysis How to Notes, Visual AEM

Step 1 Add Basic Information when creating a new file.

Step 2 To create a complete model with Levee/Dam/Sheet pile and the subsurface
we start first by adding geometric date.
Navigate to ELEMENTS in the task bar and select NO FLOW BOUNDARY which
will represent the subsurface strata through which seepage will occur.

Tip Try to create a rough sketch of the subsurface extents and edit nodes to exact
co-ordinates later. Do not input negative co-ordinates. Plan accordingly and make a
rough sketch before adding data.

Step 3 Navigate to ELEMENTS in the task bar and select INHOMOGENEITY IN

CONDUCTIVTY - POLYGON to create physical obstruction such as Dam/Levee/Sheet
pile.

Note that Conductivity (ft. /s) = 0 since material considered for dam is concrete.
Step 4 To replicate the condition of upstream and downstream water head,
navigate to ELEMENTS in the task bar and select RIVER.
The river line is Head Specified and
the co-ordinates join notes of the
obstruction and the no flow
boundary.
Note that the specified head should
be read as Elevation of the retained
water from the base of No flow
boundary.
Four river lines are required to be
specified out of which two lines are
only representative. Use the option
Disabled at the far left bottom
corner of River/Stream window.

Upon adding ELEMENTS, the geometric model will look something like this:

River Upstream
Reference Line
Inhomogeneity, k =
0 ft/s

River
Downstream

River upstream
Head = 130ft.

River
Downstream,

No Flow
Boundary
Step 5 Navigate to AQUIFER PROPERTIES

The aquifer properties allows to model

subsurface through which under seepage
occurs. The program only works when
single layer is defined.
The total aquifer thickness is height of the
subsurface. Conductivity and porosity as
obtained from the soil test can be added
to Aquifer data.

Step 6 Navigate to EXECUTE and check model for any errors. Once the model is
without any errors, select Flow model solution Options and use SPLIT as Engine
and STEADY STATE as Simulation type and hit Solve. Also you can use F1 as
short key.

Close window after the iteration are complete and hit F2 to generate contours.
Select Results to be displayed. For current model, Head and Stream function are
required. Select Display All and you will see the resulting graph.

To only view the Flow net in the sub surface, follow the procedure below
a. Go to Contours, select red icon and select the limits to be displayed.
b. Press F2 to generate contours.
c. Click Display all under results.