FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF SEEPAGE ZONE IN AN EARTH DAM ON AN IMPERVIOUS BASE

Abstract

For nearly half century, the seepage estimation from dams has been an important area of research. To date, Various analytical methods based on certain assumptions have been proposed to obtain phreatic line as well as seepage discharge. In this work, the seepage zone defined by the phreatic line as well as impervious base of the dam is analysed by FEM approach. In this approach, no assumption like the horizontal stream lines is essential. The computed discharge has been compared with those obtained by available methods. Dam sections of various slopes are examined for the comparison