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Understanding Flow Nets in Soil Mechanics

A flow net consists of equipotential lines representing equal hydraulic head and flow lines representing the pattern of fluid flow. There are three main methods to draw a flow net - analytical, graphical, and electrical analogy method. A flow net can be used to determine streamlines, seepage quantities, velocity and pressure distributions for fluid flow problems.

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Salam Abdul
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209 views15 pages

Understanding Flow Nets in Soil Mechanics

A flow net consists of equipotential lines representing equal hydraulic head and flow lines representing the pattern of fluid flow. There are three main methods to draw a flow net - analytical, graphical, and electrical analogy method. A flow net can be used to determine streamlines, seepage quantities, velocity and pressure distributions for fluid flow problems.

Uploaded by

Salam Abdul
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Flow Net

The study of gravitational flow and the


computation of seepage quantities through
the ground or through such soil structures as
earth dams and levees is greatly facilitated
using graphic device known as a flow net. A
flow net consist of two groups or families of
curves which bear a fixed relationship to
each other and which represent the pattern of
flow and dissipation of the head or driving
force that causes the flow.
A flow net is comprised of equipotential
lines and flow lines. Equipotential lines
are lines of equal hydraulic head or
Equipotential lines pass through points of
equal pressure. All intersections between
the streamlines and equipotential lines are
at right angles.
So a grid obtained by drawing a series of
streamlines and equipotentiallines is
known as a flow net.
Methods of Drawing Flow Nets
The following methods are used for drawing
flow nets.
1. Analytical method (or Mathematical
analysis):
Here, the equations corresponding to the curves
and ψ are first obtained and the same are
plotted to give the flow net pattern for the flow
of fluid between the given boundary shape.
This method can be applied to problems with
simple and ideal boundary conditions.
2. Graphical method
A graphical method consists of drawing
streamlines and equipotential lines such
that they cut orthogonally and form
curvilinear squares.
This method consumes lot of time and
requires lot of erasing to get the proper
shape of a flow net.
3. Electrical analogy method:
This method is a practical method of drawing a
flow net for a particular set of boundaries.
It is based on the fact that the flow of fluids and
flow of electricity through a conductor are
analogous.
These two systems are similar in the respect that
electric potential is analogous to the velocity
potential, the electric current is analogous to the
velocity of flow, and the homogeneous
conductor is analogous to the homogeneous
fluid.
Hydraulic models
- Streamlines can be traced by injecting a
dye in a seepage model or Heleshaw
apparatus.
- Then by drawing equipotential lines the
flow net is completed.
Use of flow nets:

The following are the uses of flow-net


analysis:
 To determine the streamlines and equipotential lines.
 To determine quantity of seepage and upward lift
pressure below hydraulic structure.
 To determine the velocity and pressure distribution,
for given boundaries of flow (provided the velocity
distribution and pressure at any reference section are
known).
 To determine the design of the outlets for their
streamlining
The following are the limitations of flow
net
The flow net analysis cannot be applied in
the region close to the boundary where the
effects of viscosity are predominant.

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