MODULE IN

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1

CE 3131

CIVIL AND GEODETIC ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

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 CE 3131

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module, you should
be able to:
1. Determine and analyze the
different soil properties and apply
it to solving different soil
problems.
2. Determine and analyze the
classification of soils and rocks,
site investigation and subsurface
exploration of the physical and
index properties of soil.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in
analyzing the different laboratory
determination of soil properties,
GEOTECHNICAL compaction, seepage and
relevance of these topics as they
ENGINEERING 1 affect soil strength,
compressibility and stability.

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 MODULE 7:
SEEPAGE

UNIT 4: SEEPAGE CALCULATION FROM A FLOW NET

EXPLAIN

Flow Channel
- the strip between any two adjacent flow lines

Figure 7.13. Seepage through a flow channel with square elements

Thus:
∆q = ∆q1 = ∆q 2 (7.19)
where:
h, h1, h2 = piezometric levels

From Eq. 6.20, sample:

h1 − h2
∆q = kiA = k ( ) (l1 )(1) (7.20)
l1

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 and
H
h1 − h2 = h2 − h3 = h3 − h4 = ∆H = (7.21)
Nd
then.
H
∆q = k (7.22)
Nd
For total rate of flow/seepage:
Nf
HNf
q = ∑ ∆q 𝑖 = k (7.23)
Nd
1
where:
H = total head loss
k = hydraulic conductivity
Nf = number of flows (between flow lines)
Nd = number of equipotential drops (do not consider the first equipotential line)

Sample Problem:

Given:

Figure 7.14

Determine:
a. How high (above the ground surface) the water will rise if piezometers are
placed at points x and y? (hx and hy)
b. If k = 4.3 x 10-4 cm/sec, what is the total rate of seepage per unit length?

Solution:
Determine number of flows and number of drops:

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 H

0 6

3
x 1 5

2 4

Figure 7.15

Note:
 At first equipotential line (at 0) = no loss of head
o The counting of drops will start at the 2 nd equipotential line (at 1)
o The loss of head is due to slow flow of water from upstream side
to the downstream side (seepage – permeability concept)
 Number of flows = number of possible channels in – between flow lines

From Figure 7.15:

Nf = 4 (yellow arrows)
Nd = 6 (red numbers)

a. How high (above the ground surface) the water will rise if piezometers are
placed at points x and y? (hx and hy)
Determine the constant head loss from upstream to downstream (Eq. 7.21):
H (4m − 1m)
h1 − h2 = h2 − h3 = h3 − h4 = ∆H = = = 0.5 m
Nd 6
 ΔH = 0.5 m ~ corresponding drop from one equipotential line to the
other (from upstream to downstream)
From Eq. 7.21, the corresponding head loss is:
H
= ∆H
Nd
Hi = (∆H)Nd(i)
therefore, if the height of water at the source or upstream side is h o:
hi = ho − Hi
hi = ho − (∆H)Nd(i)
for this sample problem:

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 ho = 4 m.
ΔH = 0.5 m

For hx:
Nd(x) = 1
hx = ho − (∆H)Nd(x) = 4m − (0.5m)(1) = 3.5 m
Therefore, at point x, the water will rise 3.5 m inside the piezometer
above the ground surface (or 0.5 m below the upstream surface)

For hy:
Nd(y) = 5
hy = ho − (∆H)Nd(y) = 4m − (0.5m)(5) = 1.5 m
Therefore, at point y, the water will rise 1.5 m inside the piezometer
above the ground surface (or 0.5 m above the downstream surface)

b. If k = 4.3 x 10-4 cm/sec, what is the total rate of seepage per unit length?
Total rate of seepage (Eq. 7.23):
HNf
q=k × sample length
Nd
cm 1m (4m − 1m)4 m3
q = (4.3 × 10−4 × ) × (1m) = 8.6 × 10−6
s 100 cm 6 s

Flow Nets in Anisotropic Soil:

- Modifying Eq. 7.23 to determine the rate of seepage per unit length:

HNf
q = √k 𝑥 k 𝑧 (7.24)
Nd
where:
H = total head loss (difference of head between upstream and downstream
surface)
From flow net:
Nf = number of flows
Nd = number of drops
kx = hydraulic conductivity along the horizontal
ky = hydraulic conductivity along the vertical

Sample Problem:

Given:
kx = 4.1 x 10-4 cm/sec
kz = 2.2 x 10-4 cm/sec

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 Figure 7.16

Determine:
Calculate the seepage loss in m3/day/m-length.

Solution:
From Figure 7.16:
Nd = 6
Nf = 4
Convert the values of hydraulic conductivity, k:
cm 1m 86400s m
k x = 4.1 × 10−4 × × = 0.35424
s 100cm 1day day
cm 1m 86400s m
k z = 2.2 × 10−4 × × = 0.19008
s 100cm 1day day

Loss of Seepage (Eq. 7.24):

HNf
q = √k x k z × sample length
Nd
m m (4m − 1m)4
q = √(0.35424 ) (0.19008 )[ ] × 1m
day day 6
m3
q = 0.519
day
m − length

UNIT 5: SEEPAGE THROUGH AN EARTH DAM AND DESIGN OF FILTERS

EXPLAIN

Earth dams
- used to store a large amount of water since the dam is constructed using soil, thus
there is a flow through this soil

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 Typical Types of Earth Dams:

(a) (b)

(c) (d)
Figure 7.18. Sketches of cross-section of typical types of earth dams: (a) homogeneous earthfill dams,
(b) zoned earthfill dams, (c) earthfill dams with core walls, and (d) concrete faced earthfill
dams
Reference: Zhang, L.M. and Xu, Y., 2009

Homogeneous Dam:

Figure 7.19
Reference: Al-Obaidi, A. (2018)

Dam with Drainage Blanket:

Figure 7.20
Reference: Al-Obaidi, A. (2018)
*From Figure 7.19 presents the dam’s unstable zone towards the downstream, thus
sometimes drain or filter must be used as shown in Figure 7.20.

Design of Filter:

Filter – is added to minimize the impact of seepage in earth dams such as the fine soil
particles may wash away into the coarse material which may clog the void spaces

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 Figure 7.21. Steady-state seepage in an earth dam with a toe filter

Figure 7.22. Filter

Fundamental Requirements/Conditions:
Condition 1: Retention condition or geometrical condition (piping ratio): The pores must
be small enough to prevent particles from being carried in from the adjacent
soil. Terzaghi and Peck (1948) provided the following criteria:

D15(F)
≤ 4 to 5 (7.25)
D85(S)
where:
D15(F) = diameter through which 15% of filter material will pass
1
Effective pore diameter of filter = D15(F) (7.26)
5
D85(S) = diameter through which 85% of soil to be protected will pass

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 Figure 7.23. Boundary between a filter and the soil to be protected

Condition 2: Permeability condition or hydraulic condition: The filter material should

have a high hydraulic conductivity to prevent buildup of large seepage
forces and hydrostatic pressures in the filters.

D15(F)
≥ 4 to 5 (7.27)
D15(S)
where:
D15(F) = diameter through which 15% of filter material will pass
D15(S) = diameter through which 15% of soil to be protected will pass

Figure 7.24. Determination of grain-size distribution of filter using Eqs. 7.25 and 7.27

Note:
 The shape of curves b and c are approximately the same as curve a

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 The U.S. Navy (1971) Conditions for the Design of Filters:
Condition 1: For avoiding the movement of the particles of the protected soil:

D15(F)
<5 (7.28)
D85(S)
D50(F)
< 25 (7.29)
D50(S)
D15(F)
< 20 (7.30)
D15(S)
*if: Cu(S) < 1.5, then:
D15(F)
≤6 (7.31)
D85(S)
*if: Cu(S) > 4, then:
D15(F)
≤ 40 (7.32)
D15(S)

Condition 2: For avoiding buildup of large seepage force in the filter:

D15(F)
>4 (7.33)
D15(S)
Condition 3: The filter material should not have grain sizes greater than 76.2 mm (3 in.).
(This is to avoid segregation of particles in the filter.)
Condition 4: To avoid internal movement of fines in the filter, it should have no more
than 5% passing a No. 200 sieve.
Condition 5: When perforated pipes are used for collecting seepage water, filters also
are used around the pipes to protect the fine-grained soil from being washed
into the pipes. To avoid the movement of the filter material into the drain-
pipe perforations, the following additional conditions should be met:
D85(F)
> 1.2 to 1.4 (7.34)
slot width
D85(F)
> 1.0 to 1.2 (7.35)
hole diameter

REFERENCES
Al-Obaidi, A. (2018) Permeability and seepage through soil. Personal Collection of Ahmed
Al-Obaidi, Tikrit University, Tikrit, Iraq

Das B.M., and Sobhan, K. (2014) Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 8th ed. United
States: Cengage Learning

El-Latief, M.Y.A. (2015) Seepage. Personal Collection of Mohamed Youssef Abd El-Latief, Ain
Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Zhang, L.M. and Xu, Y. (2009) Analysis of earth dam failures - A database approach. Georisk
Assessment and Management of Risk for Engineered Systems and Geohazards. DOI:
10.1080/17499510902831759

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