The Seepage Behavior of Rockfill Dam Due to Change of Reservoir Conditions

Abstract

The governing differential equations about the seepage were resolved using the standard numerical. The research location was on the Darbandikhan dam, which is about 230 kilometres northeast of the governorate of Baghdad in the district of Sulaymaniyah on the Diyala River. The Geo-Studio program and its subprogram SEEP/W were used to examine the total water head through the dam and water flux, and exit gradient through the numerical model that represents the dam body to show how seepage affects the dam's stability. To run the dam numerical model, three upstream reservoir water levels at a Minimum water level of 434 m, Normal water level of 472 m, and flood water level of 485 m were selected to represent the model boundary conditions. Maximum total water head through the dam was found when the water level in the reservoir was 485 m while the maximum water flux through the dam was found when the water level in the reservoir was 472 m. It was found the dam safety was ensured for all tested reservoir water levels.

Keywords

• Seepage
• Exit gradient
• Geo-studio
• Pore water pressure
• Rockfill dam