CM

CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Construction Dewatering

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Construction
Dewatering

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Construction Dewatering
„ The purpose of construction dewatering is to
control the surface and subsurface hydrologic
environment in such a way as to permit the
structure to be constructed “in the dry.”
„ Dewatering means “the separation of water
from the soil,” or perhaps “taking the water out
of the particular construction problem
completely.”
„ This leads to concepts like pre-drainage of
soil, control of ground water, and even the
improvement of physical properties of soil.
1

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Dewatering: CAISSONS
„ Excavation from within the permanent structure.
„ If the site is on land, the structure is built in place.
„ If the site is offshore, the structure is floated into
position.
„ To reduce the frictional
resistance between the
caisson and the
surrounding ground:
„ Add weight
„ Bentonite clay slurry is
injected at the soil-structure
interface.
„ Jetting is used in
cohesionless soils.
2

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 1
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Construction Dewatering

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

CAISSONS (Cont’d)
„ During unwatering a caisson in cohesionless soils, the
upward flow from the surrounding groundwater
induces a quick condition which results in loss of
strength at the bottom of excavation.

„ To prevent quick condition, the

head difference causing flow
should be kept low.
„ Caissons should not be used
in the vicinity of existing
structures that can be
damaged due to loss of ground
from beneath their
foundations.
3

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Permeability and Seepage

Flow of Water in Soil
„ Soils have interconnected voids through
which water can flow from points of high
energy to points of low energy.
„ It is necessary to estimate the quantity of
underground seepage for investigating
problems involving the pumping of water for
underground construction, and making
stability analysis of earth dams and earth-
retaining structures that are subjected to
seepage forces.
4

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Permeability Test
(Constant Head Test)
„ ASTM D2434

„ q = Water flowing Soil area, A

through the soil at
a constant rate q

„ Q = Amount of water
H
collected in a L

given time period, t

„ Then: Q = qt
„ Apparent velocity of the Q

flow ⇒ q
v= or q = vA
A 5

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 2
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Construction Dewatering

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Permeability (Cont’d)
„ In 1856, Darcy published a simple equation for the
discharge velocity of water through saturated soils:

v = ki
„ ν : the apparent velocity
k : the coefficient of permeability (aka: Hydraulic
„

conductivity − a material’s constant)

„ i : hydraulic gradient

„ By definition: H
i=
L
„ H : the head causing flow over the distance L.
6

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Permeability (Cont’d)
Q = qt => Q = (vA)t => Q = (ki) At
H
i=
q = vA
v = ki L

Q = k ( H ) At
L
QL
Solve for k : ⇒ k=
HAt
7

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Range of Permeability for Various

Soils

Permeability Coefficient, k Relative

Soil (cm/sec) Permeability
-1
Coarse gravel Exceeds 10 High
-1 -3
Sand, clean 10 to 10 Medium
-3 -5
Sand, dirty 10 to 10 Low
-5 -7
Silt 10 to 10 Very low
-7
Clay Less than 10 Impervious

„ Gravels are 1 million times more pervious

than clays 8

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 3
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Construction Dewatering

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Example for the Constant Head Test

„ For a constant head laboratory permeability test on a fine sand,
the following values are given:
„ Length of specimen = 10 in.

„ Diameter of specimen = 2.5 in.

„ Head difference = 18 in.

„ Water collected in 2 minutes = 0.031 in.

3

„ Determine:
a. Hydraulic conductivity, k, of the soil (in./min.)
b. Discharge velocity

a. k=
QL
=
(0 .031 )(10 ) = 0 .175 × 10 2 in./min.
HAt
(18 )⎛⎜ π 2 .5 2 ⎞⎟ (2 )
⎝4 ⎠
b. (
v = ki = 0 .175 × 10 −2
) ⎛ 18 ⎞ −2
⎜ ⎟ = 0 .315 × 10 in./min
⎝ 10 ⎠ 9

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Permeability in the Field

by Pumping from Wells
„ In the field, the average hydraulic conductivity of a soil
deposit in the direction of flow can be determined by
performing pumping tests from the well.
π k (H 22 − H12 )
q=
⎛R ⎞
ln⎜⎜ 2 ⎟⎟
⎝ R1 ⎠

q ⎛ R2 ⎞
k= ln ⎜ ⎟
π (H 22 − H 12 ) ⎜⎝ R1 ⎟⎠

q ⎛R ⎞
k= ln⎜ ⎟
π (H 2 − H W2 ) ⎜⎝ RW ⎟⎠
10

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

k Determined from Pumping Tests

For D10 = 0.3 mm,

k = 2000x10-4 cm/sec
= 0.2 cm/sec

0.3

11

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 4
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Construction Dewatering

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Example
„ Consider the case of pumping from a well
in an unconfined permeable layer
underlain by an impermeable stratum.
Given:
„ q = 26 ft3/min
„ H1 = 15.7 ft at R1 = 100 ft

„ H2 = 18.0 ft at R2 = 200 ft

„ Calculate the hydraulic conductivity (in

ft/min) of the permeable layer.
q ⎛ R ⎞ (26 ) ln (200 100 )
k= ln ⎜ 2 ⎟ = = 0 .074 ft/min
π (H 22 − H 12 ) ⎜⎝ R1 ⎟⎠ π (18 2 − 15 .7 2 )
12

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Dewatering Methods - Wellpoints

„ Small pipes, up to
2.5 inches in
diameter,
connected to
screens at the
bottom and to a
vacuum header
pipe at the surface
constitute a
wellpoint system.

13

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Dewatering Methods - Wellpoints

„ Effective lifts of 15 ft. are quite common at sea
level, and under certain circumstances, lifts can
be increased to as much as 25 ft.

14

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 5
CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures
Construction Dewatering

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Dewatering Methods - Wellpoints

15

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Dewatering Methods - Wellpoints

16

CM
CM 420
420 Temporary Structures

Dewatering Methods - Wellpoints

Multistage wellpoint system

17

Professor Kamran M. Nemati

Winter Quarter 2007 6