Week 5: Flow Nets Calculation
Dear students,
Study the note below:
Seepage direction can be divided into two directions what are velocity x and velocity y
Learning task (Tutorial):
1. Sketch the different shapes of flow net under sheet pile wall,
concrete dam (with a cutoff curtain and a toe filer) and earth
dam with filter and without filter.
2. With the aid of a diagram, discuss 2 main types of levee
failure that normally happened in earth dam. How can we
reduce the seepage flow in earth dam. Provide the relevant
sketch to support your answer.
3. Study work example Whitlow Text book page 118-119 (example
5.7) and Craig Text Book page 43-47 (example 2.1 for flow dam
under sheetpile). You may notice that in Whitlow book, the
datum is assumed at highest water level and for Craig textbook,
the datum is assumed lowest water level.
Take note that both assumptions will give u the same result
although the formula given is different. Point to take note: In
my lecture, I will use the approach adopted by Craig . You
may also refer to Whitlow for comparison.
4. Draw the diagram in a graph paper according to scale and
calculate the quantity of seepage and water pressure. Step by
step guidance is explained in the box.
In my notes, you will notice that I have given you a table to complete. This
table can ONLY be used if assumption that lower water level is the datum.
Problem:
COMPUTATION OF WATER PRESSURE BEHIND AND FRONT OF SHEET PILE.
Based on Craigh Text Book
Elevation Total head, ht Pressure head, hp Water Pressure, Pw
Points head, he ht = (nd/Nd) x h hp = ht - he Pw = ϒw x hp
Take the height from the ground level to the pile tip is 4 m.
Given:
h : difference of water level (4.50 – 0.5 = 4 m)
he: Elevation head: measured from lowest datum to the point. Point above datum (+ve).
Point below datum (-ve) .
(0.5 + 4 = - 4.5m)
nd : location of point at equipotential line = 10.1
Nd = Number of equipotential lines = 12 (start from lowest datum to soil surface.
Nf = Number of flow lines = 4.4 (count the square box below sheet pile)
a) Calculate Quantity of seepage. Given k = 2.5 x 105 m/s
q = k H (Nf/Nd)
= …………………m3/s (per m)
b) Calculate the water pressure at Point red, green, purple and orange (use the table given). Use the table to
assists your calculation.
c) Calculate the water pressure and draw the pressure diagram at the front and the back of sheet pile wall
Prepared by: NHZ