Solved Problems in:

Seepage and Flow-nets

*01: Correct flawed flow-nets.
*02: Flow-net beneath a dam with a partial cutoff wall.
*03: Velocity of the flow at any point under a dam.
*04: Flow-net through an earth levee.
*05: Finding the total, static and dynamic heads in a dam.
*06: Hydraulic gradient profile within an earth levee.
*07: Flow into a cofferdam and pump size.
*08: Drainage of deep excavations.
*09: Dewatering a construction site.
*10: Dewatering in layered strata.
**11: Flow through the clay core of an earth dam.

140
These color contours permit the visualization of the flow and the 14 dynamic head drops.

141
*Flownets-01: Correcting flawed flow-nets.
(Revision: Aug-08)
Do you recognize something wrong with each of the following flow-nets?

a) b)

filter

c)

Equipotential Lines
Flow Lines
Well

Solution:

a) Incorrectly drawn mesh, because two equipotential lines intersect each other
(equipotential lines and flowlines must intersect orthogonally to each other).

b) Incorrectly drawn mesh, because two flow-lines intersect each other (same as
above).

c) The well should be at the center of the net (a sink or a source point).

142
 *Flow-nets-02: A flow-net beneath a dam with a partial cutoff wall.
(Revision: Aug-08)
The completed flow net for the dam shown below includes a steel sheet-pile cutoff
wall located at the head-water side of the dam in order to reduce the seepage loss.
The dam is half a kilometer in width (shore to shore) and the permeability of the
silty sand stratum is 3.5 x 10-4 cm/s. Find, (a) the total seepage loss under the dam in
liters per year, and (b) would the dam be more stable if the cutoff wall was placed
under its tail-water side?
15 m

h = 6.0 m

2.0 m

10.0 m

17.0 m
ψ1

ψ2
ψ3
IMPERVIOUS STRATUM (CLAY OR ROCK)

Solution:

(a) Notice that h = 6.0 m, the number of flow channels Nf = 3 and the equipotentials Neq
= 10.
Using Forcheimer’s equation,
Nf cm m 3
q = k ∆h = 3.5 × 10−4 (6.0 m) = 6.3 ×10 −6 m 2 / sec/ per m of dam width
N eq sec 100 cm 10

Since the dam is 500 meters wide (shore-to-shore) the total flow Q under the dam is,
−6 103 liters sec million liters
Q = Lq = 500 m 6.3 × 10 m / sec 3
31.5 × 106 = 100
1 m3 year year

b) No. Placing the cutoff wall at the toe would allow higher uplift hydrostatic pressures to
develop beneath the dam, thereby decreasing the dam’s stability against sliding toward
the right (down-stream).

143
*Flow-nets-03: The velocity of the flow at any point under a dam.
(Revision: 12 Oct.-08)
Using the flow net shown below, (1) determine the seepage underneath the 1,000 foot
wide concrete dam, and (2) the velocity at point “a” in feet/hour, where the height of
the net’s square is 19 feet. The soil has a GS = 2.67, D10 = 0.01 mm. Overestimate the
flow by using Hazen’s coefficient C = 15 to determine the permeability k.

h = 30 feet
feet 5 feet

“a” 19’

Solution:

144
Find the permeability k using Hazen' s formula:
mm
k = C ( D10 ) 2 = 15(10 −2 mm) 2 = 0.0015
sec
Using Forheimer' s equation with flow lines N f = 5 and equipotentials N eq = 12,
Nf mm 1 in 1 ft 3, 600 sec 5 ft 3
q = k ∆h = 0.0015 ( 30 '− 5') = 0.185
N eq sec 25.4 mm 12 in 1 hour 12 hr − ft of dam
ft 2 ft 3
∴ Q = Lq = (1, 000 ft ) 0.185 = 185
hr hr
The velocity at "a" has a flow q in only that channel, or q/5,
0.185 ft 3
q 5 hr ft
v= = ≈ 0.002
A (19 ft high )(1 ft wide ) hr

145
*Flow-nets-04: Flow through an earth levee.
(Revision: Aug-08)
In western Miami-Dade County, the Everglades are contained with levees. Levee
#111 runs North-South about 2 kilometers west of Krome Avenue and its cross
section is show below. Laboratory tests indicate that the permeability of the 80-year
old levee is 0.30 m/day. What is the volume of water lost through the levee along
each kilometer in m3/day?

50 m 12 m 50 m

WT
2m C B

23 m 2:1 2:1

D
A E DRAINAGE

112 m 2.7 m

Cross-section of levee looking north.

Solution:

Using Forheimer’s equation,

Nf m 3 m3
Q = Lq = L k ∆h = (1, 000 m ) 0.3 ( 23 m ) = 2, 070
N eq day 10 day

146
 *Flow-nets-05: Finding the total, static and dynamic heads in a dam.
(Revision: Aug-08)
Find the seepage through the earth dam shown below in gallons/day if the sieve
analysis shows the D10 to be 0.17 mm, and the dam is 1,200 feet wide. What is the
pressure head at the top of the aquiclude and at mid-dam (point A)?

Number of flow channels N f = 3

Number of equipotential drops N eq = 7
mm
s formula k = CD 102 = 15 D102 = 15(0.17 mm ) 2 = 0.43
Using Hazen'
sec
Note: 8 ≤ C ≤ 15 for D10 mm; to overestimate flows, use C =15.

40’ rock toe

7
1 2 A3 4 5 6
0

25’ Clay (an aquiclude)

Solution:
Nf mm 1inch 1 ft 7.5 gallons 3 86,400sec
Q = Lq = L k∆h = (1,200 ft ) 0.43 3 ( 40 ft )
Neq sec 25.4 mm 12inches 1 ft 7 1day
gallons
Q = 18.8×106
day
4.4
At point "A" the dynamic pressure head is ( 40 ft ) = 25.1 feet
7
2
The static head at "A" is approximately ( 40 ft ) = 26.7 feet
3
Therefore, the total head = static + dynamic = 25.1 ft + 26.7 ft = 51.8 feet

147
**Flow nets-06: Hydraulic gradient profile within an earth levee.
(Revision: Aug-08)
The cross-section of an earth dam 5,000 feet wide is shown below. Determine (a) the
seepage flow through the dam, in ft3 / minute, (b) the hydraulic gradient in square I,
and (c) the pore pressures along a trial failure surface along the line ED.

148
Solution:

(a) From graph D10 = 0.04 mm. Using Hazen’s relation, with C = 15 to overestimate the
permeability of the dam,

k = C ( D10 ) = (15 )( 0.04 mm ) = 0.024 mm / sec

2 2

Nf mm 1inch 1 ft 86, 400 sec 3

Q = Lq = L k ∆h = ( 5, 000 ft ) 0.024 ( 40 ft )
N eq sec 25.4 mm 12 inches day 9
ft 3
Q = 454, 000
day

(b) The gradient in square I is,

h 40/9
iI = = = 0.40
lI 11.2

(c) The pore pressures along ED are approximately,

at pore pressure
E 0 0

40
1 u= 40'- 2.5 ( 9 ) 62.4 = 1803 psf = 1.80 ksf

40
2 u= 40'- 3 ( 9 ) 62.4 = 1664 psf = 1.66 ksf

3 40
u= 40'- 4 ( 9 ) 62.4 = 1387 psf = 1.39 ksf

40
4 u= 40'- 5 ( 9 ) 62.4 = 1109 psf = 1.11 ksf

40
5 u= 40'- 6 ( 9 ) 62.4 = 832 psf = 0.83 ksf

40
6 u= 40'- 7 ( 9 ) 62.4 = 555 psf = 0.55 ksf

40
D u= 40'- 8 ( 9 ) 62.4 = 277 psf = 0.28 ksf

149
**Flow-net-07: Flow into a cofferdam and pump size.
(Revision: Aug-08)
A cofferdam is to be built in the middle of a bay to place the foundations of a tall
television tower. A plan area of the cofferdam is 30 m long by 10 m wide. A sample
taken from the bay bottom was subjected to a hydrometer analysis: 20 grams of bay
bottom dry fines were mixed with 1 liter of water. The specific gravity of the solids
was found to be 2.65. The dynamic viscosity of water is 10-2 Poise (dynes-sec/cm2) at
20oC. After 1 hour of precipitation, the hydrometer dropped 16 cm. The soil is
uniform in size, with 80 % passing the # 200 sieve.
a) What type of soil was the sample?
b) Will a large 3 m3 per minute pump be adequate to maintain a 1 m draw down
below the bay bottom? Use FS > 2.

Pump

CL

7m

1m

15 m

Clay stratum

150
Solution:

a) Use Stoke’s formula to find diameter of the bay bottom particles:

18η L 18η 18 x10−2 dynes − sec x cm3 x 16cm

D10 = d = . =
γ S − γW t γ W ( GS − 1) t cm 2 ( 2.65 − 1) ( 9.81dynes x 3600sec )
d = 0.070 mm
Therefore the soil is silt (0.075 mm to 0.002 mm).

b) Hazen’s formula permits us to estimate the permeability k of the soil:

mm mm
k = CD102 = 15(0.07 mm ) 2 = 0.074
sec sec

Use Forheimer’s formula to estimate the total flow Q into the cofferdam:

Nf mm 4 m −5 m
3
q = k ∆h = 7.4 x10 −2
( 8m ) = 29.6 x10
N eq sec 8 10 3 m m m−s
m 3 60 s m3
Q = ( perimeter )( q ) = 80 m 29.6 x10 −5 . = 1.42
m − s min min
3 m 3 / min
Pump FS = = 2.11 > 2 OKAY Pump is adeq uate !
1.42 m 3 / min

151
**Flow-nets-08: Drainage of deep excavations for buildings.
(Revision: Aug-08)
A new office building will require a two-level underground parking garage. The
plan size of the site is 100 x 80 meters. Some of the soil properties are shown below.
a) At what depth of the excavation will the limestone (shear strength = 0.1 MN/m2)
have a punching shear failure? Suggest using a 1m x 1m plug as a model.
b) What size pump do you need (m3/minute) with a factor of safety of 3?

Pump
Elevation+0 m

kN
Sand γ = 1 7
m3
Elevation –1.0 m

Anchor

Limestone

kN
γ = 19
m3

Nf = 3 A Neq = 8 Elevation –7 m
0 8
F2 F1
F3

Elevation –9 m
1
2 7
3
4 5 6
kN
Sandstone γ = 21 Elevation –11 m
m3

152
 Solution:

a ) T h e u p li f t f o r c e a t p o i n t A i s f o u n d b y ,
Fy = 0 F u p l if t - F s h e a r r e s is ta n c e = 0
kN
F u p l if t = u A = (∆ hγ w ) A = (6 m ) 9 .8 1
m3
(1 m ) =
2
59 kN

MN kN
F s h e a r = τ A = 0 .1 (4 x ) m 2 = 400 x
m2 m
59
∴ x = = 0 .1 4 7 m w i t h F S = 7 ∴ x =1m
400
T h i s c o r r e s p o n d s t o e le v a t i o n - 6 m .

b ) D e t e r m i n e t h e f lo w q u a n t i t y w i t h F o r h e i m e r '
s f o r m u la ,
a N f
Q = qL = Lk ∆h
b N q

mm
k = C D 120 = (1 2 .5 ) ( 0 .0 9 5 m m )
2
w here = 0 .1 1 3
sec
∆h = 5m
mm 3 60 m
∴ Q = (3 6 0 m ) 0 .1 1 3 (5 m ) 1 0 −3 = 4 .6 m 3 / m i n ≈ 5 m 3 / m i n
sec 8 m mm
m3
F o r a F S = 3 u se a 15 pum p.
m in

153
 *Flow-nets-09: Dewatering a construction site.
(Revision: Aug-08)
The figure below shows a dewatering plan to build the foundations of an office
building below the water table and without sheet-piling. The plan area of the
excavation is 400 m long by 100 m wide. The soil has a D10 of 0.02 mm. What size
pump do you need (gpm) with a Factor of Safety = 2?

Dewatering wells

Marshy soils

∆h = 2m Excavated site
CL

∆h = 2m

1
∆h = 2m

2
3 ∆h = 2m Lowered WT

Neq = 4
Nf = 3

Solution:

Notice that ∆h = 8 m, N f = 3, N eq = 4 and L = perimeter = 1, 000 m.

The permeability k = C ( D10 ) = (15 )( 0.02mm ) = 0.006 mm / s
2 2

Nf mm 3 m 60 s m3
Q = L q = L k ∆h = ( 200 + 800 ) m 0.006 (8m ) = 2.16
N eq s 4 103 mm 1min min
3
m3 ft 7.45 gal gallons
Q = 2.16 = 600
min 0.30 m ft 3 min

Therefore, for a factor of safety of 2 use at least a 1,200 gallons per minute pump or
two 600 gallons per minute pumps.

154
*Flow-net-10: Dewatering in layered strata.
(Revision: Aug-08)
The figure below shows the profile of a square excavation (in plan view) in a layered
soil, where the vertical permeability is 5 x 10-5 m/s and the horizontal permeability is
roughly ten times higher than the vertical. Estimate the dewatering capacity
requirements, in m3/hour, to prevent the excavation from flooding. The value of ∆h
is to scale, but you may use 10 m.
CL
40 m 40 m
10m
10m 80 m

Phreatic surface condition is CL

fulfilled along the top flow-line

GWL Sheet-pile wall

Datum for h
(½ square) h=0
h=1(1/3)m

h=2(2/3)m
h=4m

h=5(1/3)m

h=6(2/3)m
(½ square)
h=8m

h=9(1/3)m
(½ square)

(½ square)

Assumed recharged boundary h = 10 4m

Scale

155
Solution:

∆h = 10m , N f = 4 , N eq = 8

k = kxk y = ( 5 x1 0 −4
m / s )( 5 x1 0 − 5 m / s ) = 1 .6 (1 0 − 4 m / s )
T h e p erim eter o f th e co fferd am p = ( 4 )( 8 0 m ) = 3 2 0 m
N m 4
Q = qp = k ∆h
f
p = (1 .6 ) 1 0 −4 (1 0 m ) (3 2 0 m )
N eq s 8

m3 3, 6 0 0 s m3
Q = 0 .2 5 3 = 911
s hr hr

156
 **Flownets-11: Flow through the clay core of an earth dam.
(Revision: Aug-08)
An earth dam on a pervious but strong earth foundation has the cross-section shown
in the figure below. The core of the dam is sealed from the jointed rock foundation
with a thin layer of grout.
(a) State the function and properties of the core shell and drains;
(b) What is the function of the grout between the core and foundation? Under what
conditions is it most important?
(c) Calculate the seepage quantity per foot of length of the dam through the dam,
through the foundation, and the total seepage quantity.
(d) What grading requirements should be specified for the inclined filter A?
(e) What minimum permeability k is required in the horizontal drain B to prevent
saturation from rising into the random fill zone? Give the results of k in ft/day.

Reservoir surface
inclined filter A

10 ft
H=100 ft

shell dam permeability k1= 0.001 ft/day

core
L = 150 ft
grout

h1=5 ft
horizontal drain B

Note: The grain size of core = 100% passes 1”, 15% size = 1/8”, and 85% size = 0.001 in.

Foundation layer permeability k2 = 0.1 ft/day

157
Solution:

(a) The core is used to retain water within the dam, that is, to resist seepage. The
material should be relatively impermeable (clay) and should not shrink or swell
excessively.
The shell provides the structural strength to support and protect the core. The
material must be more permeable than the core material, strong and durable.

The drains are provided to reduce the pore water pressures in the foundation and
in the embankment to increase stability. The drains also remove seepage water to
reduce soil erosion. The drain material must be permeable enough to permit
drainage with a low head loss and yet fine enough to keep the adjacent soil in
place.
(b) The primary function of the grout between the core and foundation is to form an
impervious layer which prevents seepage along the contact surface. This becomes
most important when the ratio k2/k1 becomes large.
(c) Calculate the seepage Q by using the flow net shown in the figure.

1) Through the dam: Q = k1(∆h/L)b in ft3/day/ft where b is the normal distance

between streamlines. The flow net divides the core into 4 zones (#1 at the bottom,
#4 at the top).
4 4
Q = k1 ij bj = k1 (∆h)j (b)j
j=1 j=1

In zone #1, the flow net is nearly rectangular, so (b)1 = 2; for zone # 4, (b )j = 1

The average head loss hl across the core in each zone

( ) + Zu = constant = 100’ on the upstream face
γ
On down stream face of core ( ) = 0 is assumed in the drain,
γ
so that ZL + hL = constant = 100’ on the downstream face

Using an average ZL for each zone by scaling,

Zone#1 ZL = 2’ hL = 98’ ∆hL = 98

6 6
Zone#2 ZL = 10’ hL = 90’ ∆hL = 90
5.5 5.5
Zone#3 ZL = 25’ hL = 75’ ∆hL = 75
4.5 4.5
Zone#4 ZL = 55’ hL = 45’ ∆hL = 45
3 3
4
Q1 = k1 ∆hj (b/L)j = 0.001 [98’(2) + 90’ + 75’ + 45’] = 0.081 ft3/day/ft of dam

158
 j=1
6 5.5 4.5 3
2) Through the foundation Q2 = NF kh
Nd

where NF = number of flow paths, Nd = number of equipotential drops and

h = total head dissipated.

Q2 = 3 (0.1)(100) = 3.75 ft3 /day/ft of dam

159
 Core

Suggested grading
curve

Acceptable
Range

3) The total seepage Q is therefore,

Q = Q1 + Q2 = 0.081 + 3.75 = 3.83 ft3/day /ft of dam

160
(d) The grading requirements for the inclined filter A,
(1) Free drainage, require D15 (filter) ≥ 4 D15 (soil)
D15 (filter) ≥ 4 (0.001 in)
≥ 0.004 in
(2) To prevent erosion of the core material requires D15 (filter) ≥ 4 D85 (soil)
≥ 4 (0.001 in)
≥ 0.004 in
So 85% of the filter material must be coarser than 0.01” to 0.2”. The filter grain
size grading curve should be parallel to or flatter than the core material grading
curve. See the graph on the next page for one possible grading curve, which gives
100% passes = 10 inch
15% passes = 2 inch
85% passes = 0.01 inch

(e) The drain B must carry the total seepage flow Q = 3.83 ft3/day/ft of dam calculated
above. The Dupuit formula for two-dimensional flow on a horizontal impervious
boundary is

Q = k (h12-h22)
2L

where Q = 3.83ft3/day/ft, L = 150 ft, h1= 5 ft and h2 < 5 ft.

At what value of h2 will it minimize k? Clearly it is when h2 = 0, although this does seem
unrealistic since we are saying that the flow at the lower end of the drain has zero depth.
Nevertheless, it gives us a minimum value, which is:

kmin = 2LQ = 2(150)(3.83) = 46 ft/day

h1 2 52

161