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Hydraulic Gradient The potential drop between two adjacent equipotential lines divided by distance between them is known as hydraulic gradient.
The continuity equation for steady state two dimensional flow with x and y velocity components vx and vy respectively is given by,
According to Darcys law, discharge velocity of flow in a porous soil medium is proportional to hydraulic gradient that is, v h . If kx and ky are the coefficients of permeability of soil, ix and iy are the hydraulic gradients in x and y directions respectively and h(x, y) is the hydraulic head of flow, then
Seepage analysis Laplaces equation Laplaces equation governs the flow of an incompressible fluid, through an incompressible homogeneous soil medium.
For the case of isotropic soil the permeability coefficient is independent of direction that is, kx = ky = k thus above equation becomes,
Assumptions associated with Laplaces equation are 1. Darcys law is valid 2. The soil is completely saturated 3. The soil is homogeneous 4. The soil is isotropic 5. During flow, the volume of soil & water remains constant
Limitations of Laplaces equation are 1. Flow is laminar 2. Degree of saturation is 100% 3. Coefficient of permeability is constant everywhere in the soil medium 4. Coefficient of permeability is same in all directions 5. No expansion or contraction
Flow net
Flow net is a network of flow lines and equipotential lines intersecting at right angles to each other. Or A flow net is a graphical representation of a flow field (Solution of Laplace equation) and comprises a family of flow lines and equipotential lines.
Flow line(Stream line) The path which a particle of water follows in its course of seepage through a saturated soil mass is called a flow line. Equipotential lines Equipotential lines are lines that intersect the flow lines at right angles. Piezometric Head or Pressure Head At all points along an equipotential line, the water would rise in Piezometric tubes to the same elevation known as the Piezometric head.
6. An equipotential line is a line joining points with the same head. 7. The velocity of flow is normal to the equipotential line. 8. The difference in head between two equipotential lines is called the potential drop or head loss(h).
Uses of flow nets The main application of flow net is that it is employed in estimating quantity of seepage. Determination of Hydrostatic pressure. Determination of Seepage
Where flow direction is a straight line, flow lines are equal distance apart and parallel. Also, the flow net in confined areas between parallel boundaries usually consists of flow lines and equipotential lines that are elliptical in shape and symmetrical. Try to avoid making sharp transition between straight and curved sections of flow and equipotential lines. Transitions must be gradual and smooth. Continue sketching until a problem develops. Successive trials will result in a reasonably consistent flow net. In most cases, 3 to 8 flow lines are usually sufficient. Depending on the
Typical flow net for the flow beneath the dam without any cutoff wall
Typical flow net for the flow around a sheet pile wall
Typical flow net for the flow beneath the dam with heel cutoff wall [Lambe & R.V. Whitman (1979)]
Typical flow net for the flow beneath the dam with toe cutoff wall [Lambe & R.V. Whitman