CHAPTER 7: FLOW NETS

FLOW LINE
A line along which a water particle will travel from upstream to the
downstream side in the permeable soil medium.

EQUIPMENT LINE
A line along which the potential head at all points is equal.

FLOW NET
A combination of a number of flow lines and equipotential lines.

Characteristics of a Flow Net

1. The equipotential lines intersect the flow lines at right angles.

2. The flow elements formed are approximate squares.

Rate of Seepage through the Foundation

1. For isotropic soils

K H Nf
Q= Nd

(rate of seepage from a flow net)

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 K x = Kz = K
(coefficient of permeability)

Nf = 5 (number of flow channels)

Nd = 8 (number of potential drops)

2. For non-isotropic soils

Q=
√ Kx Kz H Nf
Nd

When Kx ≠ Kz

K = √ Kx Kz

Uplift Pressure Under Hydraulic Structures

There are 7 equipotential drops: Nd = 7

Loss of head for each potential:

H 21
= Nd = 7 = 3 m.

Pa = (21 – 3) Υ w
Pa = 18Υ w

Pb = (18 – 3) Υ w
Pb = 15Υ w

Pc = (15 – 3) Υ w
Pc = 12Υ w

Pd = (12 – 3) Υ w
P d = 9Υ w

Pe = (9 – 3) Υ w
Pe = 6 Υ w

Pf = (6 – 3) Υ w

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 P f = 3Υ w

(18Υ +3Υ )(36)(1)

Uplift force = w w

2
Uplift force = 378 Υ (per unit length)
w

Uplift force = 378(9.81)

Uplift force = 3708.18 kN/m

3. Seepage through an Earth Dam on an Impervious Base

1.

K H Nf
Q=
Nd

Nf = 3
Nd = 11
Q = seepage through the earth dam
K = coeff. Of permeability

2.

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 K (h12−h22)
Q=
2L

3.

Q = K L tan θ Sin θ

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 d d2 H2
L = cos θ -
√ −
cos2 θ sin 2 θ

Seepage through the foundation

K H Nf
Q=
Nd

Nf = 4
Nd = 9

1. Problem
Compute the seepage flow under the foundation of the damn shown.

K = 0.002 m/sec.

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 2. Problem
Calculate the seepage loss per meter length of the sheet pile (at right
angle to the cross section shown. K = 6.5 x 10 -6 m/sec.

3. Problem
The sheet pile is driven in the Cebu South reclamation area and the
area to one side is pumped down as shown in the flow net. The
permeability of the sand is 0.001 m/sec. below elevation 20 m. is an

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 impermeable rock layer. Determine the flow per unit length and the
pressure at point A at elevation 22 m.

4. Problem
Two sheet are driven to upport a sewer excavation in a medium sand
having a void ratio of 0.5 and a specific gravity of 2.60. The interior of
the excavation is dewatered to the bottom elevation of 118 m. If the
permebility of the sand k = 0.001 m/sec., calculate the total in flow of
water into the foundation for a 30 m. length of excavation.

5. Problem
From the given base of the weir shown and the given equipotential
lines, compute the following:

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 1. The uplift pressure at A.
2. The uplift pressure at B.
3. The uplift force per unit length measured along the axis of the weir

6. Problem
From the figure shown,

Kx = 0.3 m/day (horizontal direction)

Kz = 0.4 m/day (vertical direction)

1. Compute the uplift pressure at C.

2. Compute the uplift force per unit length along the axis of the weir.
3. Compute the seepage through the foundation.

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 7. Problem
An earth dam on a previous but strong earth foundation has the cross
section shown. The core of the dam is sealed from the joined rock
foundation with a thin layer of gunite or splush grout.

1. Calculate the seepage through the dam.

2. Calculate the seepage through the foundation.
3. Compute the total seepage.
4. What min. permeability is required in drain B to prevent saturation
from rising into the random fill zone.

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 8. Problem
The depth of the water outside the cofferdam is 10 m. and the
penetration of the sheet piles below the original surface of the sand is
18 m. The water level in the ditch is 20 m. below the outside water
level. If the coefficient of permeability k = 0.005 m/sec., what will be
the seepage into the ditches per meter of length of seepage into the
ditches per meter of the entire cofferdam.

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 9. Problem
Compute the uplift force per meter width of the masonry dam shown.

10. Problem
A masonry dam having a sheet piling cut off at the upstream end is
located at a reservoir site. Compute the seepage through the foundation
using the flow net for the subsurface flow as shown: Assume coefficient of
permeability equal to 0.003 m/min.

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11. Problem
Compute the rate of seepage through the dam using Dupuit’s method.

12. Problem
A dam is shown with sheet piles driven at a depth of 8 m. below the
ground surface. The cp=oefficient f permeability of the permeable layer in
vertical and horizontal directions are kz = 0.02 mm/sec. and kx = 0.04
mm/sec. respectively. Calculate the seepage loss of the dam in liters/sec/m
if it is a non isotropic soil.

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