Modeling the effect of central impervious core and downstream filter geometry on seepage through earth dams

Abstract

This investigation aims to identify the seepage discharge in the earth dam resting on an impervious foundation. Twenty-one models of a homogenous earth dam with and without horizontal filter and a central impervious core of different width were constructed in a hydraulic flume. In the present study, fluid and geometrical parameters of the dam, horizontal filter’s and the central impervious core were varied to find their effect on seepage. It was observed that with increasing the dam’s height, filter’s length, downstream slope, and longitudinal slope, there was an increase in seepage discharge and vice versa with upstream slope, clay core’s thickness, the viscosity of the fluid, and the earth dam’s length. Several studies have neglected the variation in fluid's viscosity for the seepage study in earth dam modeling, which is included in this study. Using Slope/w, the stability of the upstream and downstream faces was checked under full reservoir conditions.

Keywords

• Earth dam
• Horizontal filter
• Porewater-pressure
• Seepage discharge
• Water pressure head