SEEPAGE FORCES

Consider a random element of a flow net:

Each side has the same length, b
A

b
B

D
C

the direction of flow is inclined at an angle of to the horizontal

lines AB and DC define the elemental flow channel
lines AD and BC are equipotentials, with a drop in head of h when water
seeps from AD to BC

SEEPAGE FORCES
Geometrically:
A

The
in elevation
between are
A and
D is
B
same
same
as
Fourdifference
congruent right
angle triangles
formed
from
vertical
is the
the
as
between
B and
D
CC and
is
bcos
bsin.. from the four corners of
and horizontal
inwards
andlines
andprojected
is equal
equal to
to
the flow net element
Each has an angle as shown

SEEPAGE FORCES

The pore pressure distributions acting on each side

of the element are shown below:
If the
The
change
pore in
water
pore water
pressure between
point
B,
at point
from
point
A
is
A uto
A
bsin
and
point
C
is
due
only
to
point
B
is
due
to
a
loss
in
u
=

(h-z),
and
and
w
-h
bcos
the
drop,
totalelevation
head -h
and bcos
the ,
elevation
drop,
bsinwater

the change
in pore
bcos
pressure between point A
and point D is due only to
the elevation drop, bcos,
uD = uA + w bcos
uB = uA + w(bsin-h)
uC = uAB + wwbcos
(bsin+bcos
-h)
or

+-h)
wbcos or

SEEPAGE FORCES

The
The
The
net
pore
equivalent
boundary
pressure
water
distribution
load
force
(net
acting
acting
boundary
on
on
AD
ABwater
is:
will beb
pore
pressurepoint
distribution
acting
on BC
2
forcecancelled
) xacting
w(bsin
on
-h)
DC
is:or
b wx
b2sin
on
bcos

h
or

b
b
cos
cancelled
by
by
that
that
acting
acting
on
BC,
DC
leaving:
leaving:
w
w w
uD-uA = uC-uB = w bcos

uD = uA + w bcos

w b 2
si n
-

w bcos

uB = uA + w(bsin-h)
uC = uA + w(bsin+bcos-h)

uB-uA = uC-uD = w(bsin-h)

h
wb

w(bsin-h)

w b2cos

SEEPAGE FORCES

What would the boundary water forces be if

seepage stopped? (i.e., the static case)

w b 2
sin
- h
w b

h would be 0, and the

The forces
only difference
on DC andbetween
BC wouldthe
be
2
static
and
wb2sincases
respectively,
seepage
is the force
w b cosand
h
wb called
the seepage
J of
orthogonal
vectors
with a force,
resultant
2
If
average
hydraulic gradient, i
w bthe
, (acting
vertically)
across the element is:
h

h
Then: J hwb
wb2 iwb2
b
If b2 x 1 m is the volume of the
element, V then the seepage pressure,
j is defined as the seepage force per
unit volume:
j = i
w

w b2cos

SEEPAGE FORCES

the
total
weight
of
element
=gravitational
sat
b2stress
=conditions
vector
ab
How
If
In
Therefore,
the
will
effective
extremes:
The
seepage
lets
concern
consider
stress
affect
ifthe
is
the
with
is
the
seepage
all
reduced
the
the
effective
support
direction
too
much
isby
downward,
at
and
upward
any
seepage
ofpoint
the
seepage,
the
soil.
in
forces
the
effective
soil
then
acting
mass?
theon
Boundary
water
force
on
wb2loads.
costhe
=First,
vector
soil will
stress
the
soilwill
lose
element
beits
increased
ability
la a vector
toorCD
support
if =upward
diagram.
effective
thebdSEEPAGE
stress willcase:
be decreased
Boundary water force on BC = wb2sin-hwb = vector de
Resultant boundary water force = vector be

w b 2
sin
- h
w b

Resultant body force = vector ae = Effective Stress,

w b2cos

SEEPAGE CASE

SEEPAGE FORCES

the total
Now
consider
weight
theofSTATIC
the element
case:= satb2 = vector ab

Boundary water force on CD = wb2cos = vector bd

Boundary water force on BC = wb2sin = vector dc
Resultant boundary water force = wb2 = vector bc

w b 2
sin
- h
w b

Resultant body force = b2 vector ac = Effective Stress,

w b2cos

STATIC CASE

SEEPAGE FORCES

This brings up an alternative solution to the seepage case:

Effective weight of the element = b2 = vector ac
Seepage force = hwb = vector ce
Resultant body force vector ac = Effective Stress,

To summarize, the resultant body force (effective stress)

can be obtained by considering:
B)
skeleton,
A) the
whole
soil mass,
the equilibrium
equilibrium of
of the
the soil
add the effective
weightweight
of theof
soil
mass
ac) (ab)
total saturated
the
soil (mass

OR
to find effective stress (ae)

to the seepage
(be) water force (ce)
resultantforce
boundary

SEEPAGE CASE (reprise)