CIV330 - Geotechnical Engineering, Spring 2020

Lecture 19 - Flow of Water through Soil

Two-Dimensional Water Flow & Flow Nets

Objectives of this topic:
1. Calculate quantity of flow in two-dimensional flow soil systems.
2. Learn and apply the rules of drawing a flow net.
3. Draw a complete flow net.
4. Calculate quantity of flow in two-dimensional flow soil systems.
5. Calculate pressure heads along water-retaining earth structures.

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--� 1 ___ ___ I _ _

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£�Li
I t j

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t
 flh, 2
_i il"2

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T A

----
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Flow channel -�q, "

f') U..M. be.r C �

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/,of r

)
Equipotential line

AH.� 't

Geotechnica/ Engineering - Water through Soils 2

Example 1: Calculation of Flow

k = -10-3 cm/sec

v
7m v
1.75 m

Impermeable layer

Geotechnica/ Engineering - Water through Soils 3

Example 2: Calculation of Pore Pressures at Location and Hydraulic Gradient in Exit
Element

v
7m v

7m k = l x 10-3 cm/s

.......
( .... �_ . _...-......,..�----....,.,�--....,.,�-��-�-�----......,-...-_..,-Datum
,..,. -:.c .. �'

lmp�nneable layer

Geotechnical Engineering - Water through Soils 4

Flow net construction:

1. Draw the geometry of structure correctly on the paper. The horizontal and vertical scales
shall be the same. Otherwise, the square shape requirement cannot be met.
2. Identify boundaries:
• Impermeable boundaries = flow lines. E.g. surface of a clay layer, the vertical surface
of sheet piling or the underside of a concrete dam.
• Permeable boundaries = equipotentials - where a permeable soil boundary is in
contact with open water, as on the upstream face of an earth dam. This also applies to a
horizontal water table within a permeable deposit when flow is occurring vertically
downwards, as occurs alongside a sheet piled excavation.
3. Select a proper number of channels (Nf) and thus flow lines (normally 3-4 channels is ,
adequate.
4. First draw trial flow lines with selected Nf for the entire earth structure. Note that there are
equal amounts of water flow through all flow channels.
5. By starting from the upstream site, draw the first equi-potential line to have all net openings
squares or near squares with 90 degree intersections
6. Continue the above step for the second and third �qui-potential lines and so on.

Checks and Advice:

I I
,r:::r---a.
I \
/�
---+ Right angles - flow lines I I I \ /
I \ I
b d
I I
and equipotential lines
(a)
must cross at right angles. (b)
(c)

---+ Square blocks - the areas

--- --
0
formed by intersecting
flow lines & equipotential -Flow line
lines must be as near -- .... - Equipotential line
square as possible. A useful
(d) (e)
test is to visualize whether
a circle can be placed inside the block and touch all four sides (curvilinear squares).
---+ Use plain white or engineering paper.
---+ Draw in landscape direction.
---+ Draw boundaries and structures in ink.
---+ Draw flow lines first (2 or 3 will usually do).
---+ Draw equipotential lines afterwards - check and if necessary erase and do it again.
---+ Use the flow net to compute seepage (see following).

Geotechnical Engineering - Water through Soils 5

Uses of a flow net:

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e
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Geotechnical Engineering - Water through Soils 6

Example 3: More uses of a flow net - Uplift Pressures:
Because equipotential lines are contours of constant total head, you can use flow nets to
compute the head at any point in the net. From that you can calculate pressure head etc.

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.

0
Impervious La)•t•r

1) Draw the flow net:

2) What is the total head at the Points underneath the structure?

a) Measure number of drops to the Points from head water.

b) How much change in head per drop?

3) What is the pore pressure at the different Points?

Geotechnical Engineering - Water through Soils 7

 15.5 rn

.,.

Geotechnical Engineering - Water through Soils 8

Solution: Example 1: Calculation of Flow

k = 10·3 cm/sec

v 5. :L-5
7m
1.75 m

Impermeable layer

4
( 1£�)
-)
Io ( 5 .25x I ao .q
.,. c°Ys' )
-:>
\O ·�
5

Geotechnica/ Engineering - Water through Soils 9

 Solution: Example 2: Calculation of Pore Pressures at Location and Hydraulic
Gradient in Exit Element

v
1' 6 l4 -+ot ' 6 �
7m h (. s '=1-Jl ,:\ \ I

�f '� \\ :: \4 � l . �e., �
I<
111

hf .1

;Jr
7m k = 1 X 10- 3 cm/s
J Lt

Impermeable layer
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6 \+fo + ,6 o. f5 W\
f,
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(. �e.. d l.ss /k•p ) x # tl drops

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s f l4M - Q.�:, ,(_ b s t Lf - Q.-:;- C;> "- b ., 'I. 5 �

L.lA , hf X,_, :: (\+A - \\ e_.4 ) (,, ( 1 ::_:__if ) � � 5 lf k/..,
Geotechnical Engineering - Water through Soils 5. cs 'I( 1- g J 10
 Solution: Example 3: More uses of a flow net- Uplift Pressures:
Because equipotential lines are contours of constant total head, you can use flow nets to
compute the head at any point in the net. From that you can calculate pressure head etc.

z (m)
IS.Sm

11- - 17.0 --- ,-----

12.0 ·----- ---------------

,�
\ 0 � 10.0 ...,.____.,
·�---....---..--�,
. .

0
Impervious Layer

1.J) What is the total head at the Points underneath the structure?
a) Measure number of drops to the Points from head water.

tJ d s 'b N�s �

b) How much change·in head per drop?

.,1 J,.J. � {- - -
5 Q.62-5 ..,
t:> Hd :; s
NtJ.
3) What .is the pore pressure at the different Points?

u. ..'

Geotechnical Engineering - Water through Soils 11

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Geotechnical Engineering - Water through Soils