196 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Referring to Fig. 6.27, the effective stress at the top of sand stratum goes on getting
reduced as the excavation proceeds due to relief of stress, the neutral pressure in sand remain-
ing constant.
The excavation would fail when the effective stress reached zero value at the top of
sand.
Effective stress at the top of sand stratum,
σ = z . γsat – h.γw
If this is zero, hγw = z . γsat
z . γ sat (12.5 − 8) × 18.64
or h= = = 8.55 m
γw 9.81
Therefore, the water would have risen to a height of 8.55 m above the stratum of sand
into the drill hole before excavation under the influence of neutral pressure.
Example 6.5: Water flows at the rate of 0.09 ml/s in an upward direction through a sand
sample with a coefficient of permeability of 2.7 × 10–2 mm/s. The thickness of the sample is 120
mm and the area of cross-section is 5400 mm2. Taking the saturated unit weight of the sand as
18.9 kN/m3, determine the effective pressure at the middle and bottom of the sample.
Here, q = 0.09 ml/s = 90 mm3/s, k = 2.7 × 10–2 mm/s
A = 5400 mm2
90
i = q/kA = = 0.6173
2.7 × 10 −2 × 5400
γ′ = γsat – γw = (18.90 – 9.81) kN/m3 = 9.09 kN/m3
= 9.09 × 10–6 N/mm3
For the bottom of the sample, z = 120 mm
σ = γ′z – izγw,
for downward flow, considering the effect of seepage pressure.
∴ σ = (9.09 × 10–6 × 120 – 0.6173 × 120 × 9.81 × 10–6) N/mm2
= 120 × 10–6 (9.09 – 0.6173 × 9.81) = 0.364 × 10–3 N/mm2
= 364 N/m2
For the middle of the sample, z = 60 mm
σ = γ′z – iz γw
= (9.09 × 10–4 × 60 – 0.6173 × 60 × 9.81 × 10–6) N/mm2
= 0.182 × 10–3 N/mm2 = 182 N/m2.
Example 6.6: A deposit of cohesionless soil with a permeability of 3 × 10–2 cm/s has a depth of
10 m with an impervious ledge below. A sheet pile wall is driven into this deposit to a depth of
7.5 m. The wall extends above the surface of the soil and a 2.5 m depth of water acts on one
side. Sketch the flow net and determine the seepage quantity per metre length of the wall.
(S.V.U.— B.E. (R.R)—Nov., 1973)
The flow net is shown.
Number of flow channels, nf = 4
Number of equipotential drops, nd = 14

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SEEPAGE AND FLOW NETS 197

Quantity of seepage per meter UV q=k.H.

nf
length of wall W nd

h = 2.5 m

1 14
Pervious
2 13
I 7.5
3 II
m 12
III
4 11
IV 5 10
6 7 8 9

2.5 m Impervious

Fig. 6.28 Sheet pile wall (Example 6.6)

4
= 3 × 10–4 × 2.5 × m3/sec/metre run
14
= 2.143 × 10–4 m3/sec/ meter run
= 214.3 ml/sec/metre run.
Exmaple 6.7: An earth dam of homogeneous section with a horizontal filter is shown in Fig. 6.29.
If the coefficient of permeability of the soil is 3 × 10–3 mm/s, find the quantity of seepage per
unit length of the dam.

27 m 8m
A B
E
Directrix of
1
3: 3: base parabola
1
30 m 32 m

A B F
90 m
45 m
S
200 m

Fig. 6.29 Homogeneous earth dam with horizontal filter at toe (Example 6.7)

AB = 0.3(EB) = 3.0 × 90 = 27 m
With respect of the focus, F (the end of the filter), as origin, the co-ordinates of A, the
starting point of the base parabola, are : x = FA′ = 200 – 90 – 45 + 27 = 92 m
z = A′A = 30 m
The equation to the parabola is

x 2 + z 2 = x + S,
where S is the distance to the directrix from the focus, F.
∴ 92 2 + 30 2 = 92 + S

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198 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

or S = ( 92 2 + 30 2 − 92) m = 4.77 m
The quantity of seepage per metre unit length of the dam
q=k.S
= 3 × 10–2 × 10–3 × 4.77 m3/s
= 14.31 × 10–5 m3/S
= 143.1 ml/s.
Example 6.8: For a homogeneous earth dam 32 m high and 2 m free board, a flow net was
constructed with four flow channels. The number of potential drops was 20. The dam has a
horizontal filter at the base near the toe. The coefficient of permeability of the soil was 9 × 10 –
2 mm/s. Determine the anticipated seepage, if the length of the dam is 100 metres.

Head of water, H = (32 – 2) m = 30 m

Permeability of the soil = 9 × 10–2 mm/s
Number of flow channels =4
Number of head drops = 20
nf
Discharge per metre length =k.H.
nd
9 × 10 −2 4
= × 30 × m3/s
10 3 20
Seepage anticipated for the entire length of the dam
100 × 9 × 10 −2 × 30 × 4 3
= m /s
1000 × 20
= 0.054 m3/s = 541 ml/s.
Example 6.9: An earth dam is built on an impervious foundation with a horizontal filter at
the base near the toe. The permeability of the soil in the horizontal and vertical directions are
3 × 10–2 mm/s and 1 × 10–2 mm/s respectively. The full reservoir level is 30 m above the filter.
A flow net constructed for the transformed section of the dam, consists of 4 flow channels and
16 head drops. Estimate the seepage loss per metre length of the dam.
kh = 3 × 10–2 mm/s kv = 1 × 10–2 mm/s
kh = 3 × 10–5 m/s kv = 10–5 m/s
H = 30 m
Equivalent permeability ke = kh kv
= 3 × 10 −5 × 1 × 10 −5 m/s
= 1.732 × 10–5 m/s
Seepage loss per metre length of the dam
n
= ke . H . f
nd
4
= 0.433 × 10–5 × 30 × m3/s
16
= 1.299 × 10–4 m3/s
= 129.9 ml/s.

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