Soil Mechanics I

(T. Faisal Fathani)

1.
Permeability coefficient in stratified soil
2.
Permeability test in the field
3.
Seepage and Flow-net
4.
Uplift pressure on hydraulic structure
5.
Seepage through an earth dam on impervious base
6.
Soil compaction

Seepage

Flow nets:
To calculate the flow of water through soil which is not in one direction
only, nor is it uniform over the area perpendicular to the flow.
The concept of flow nets  Laplaces equation of continuity
Sheet pile
H1

h
H2

A
dz
dx
Impermeable layer

Single-row sheet pile

driven into permeable
layer

Flow at A:
Laju perubahan
kecepatan aliran
dy

vx dz dy
dz

dx
vz dx dy

If the volume change:

Assuming the water is incompressible

and that no volume change in soil
mass:
2D seepage continuity equation:
(1)

With Darcys Law, discharge velocities:

(2)

kx = hydraulic conductivity in horizontal direction

kz = hydraulic conductivity in vertical direction

(1)
From Eq (1) and (2):

If the soil is isotropic, kx = kz ; continuity equation for 2D flow:

Flow nets:

-
Flow lines: a water particle will travel from upstream

to downstream side in permeable soil medium
-
Equipotential lines: potential head at all points is
equal.
Sheet pile

H1
H2

Flow line
Equipotential
line
Impervious layer

-
Equipotential lines intersect the flow lines at right angles

-
The flow elements formed are approximate squares
Sheet pile

H1

a d

H2

Nf = 4
Nd = 6

g
Impervious layer

Flow net under a dam

H1

a d

H2

Nf = 4
Nd = 8
Impervious layer

Seepage calculation from a Flow Net

(flow channel  square elements)
h1
h2

h3

q

h4

l1
l1

l2
l2

q1

q2

l3
l3

h1, h2, h3, hn = piezometric

levels corresponding to the
equipotential lines

q

q3

The rate of seepage through the flow channel per unit length.
Because no flow across the flow lines:
From Darcys Law:

Flow elements are drawn as approximate  potential drop between

any 2 adjacent equipotential line is the same

The rate of flow through a flow channel per unit length:

H = head difference between upstream and downstream sides

Nd = Number of potential drops
Nf = Number of flow channels
Total rate of flow through all the channels per unit length:

Seepage calculation from a Flow Net

(flow channel  rectangular elements)
h1

q
l1

h2

h3

h4

b1
l2

b2

The rate of flow through the channel:

l3

b3

q

Sheet pile

H1
H2
Channel-1

Channel-2
Channel-3

Impervious layer

Sheet pile

Example-1
15 m
5m
I

II

c
30 m

III

b
2

d 5

Impervious layer

(a)
How high (above the ground surface) the water will rise if
piezometers are placed at points a, b, c dan d
From the figure : Nf = 3 dan Nd = 6
Potential drop between 2 equipotential lines: H/Nd = 10/6 = 1,667 m

Point a is located on equipotential line 1

Potential drop at a = 1 x 1,667 m

Water in piezometer at point a will rise to an elevation of
(15-1,667) = 13,333 m above the ground surface.

Similary, the piezometer levels for:

Point b = (15 - 2 x 1,667) = 11,67 m above the ground surface

Point c = (15 - 5 x 1,667) = 6,67 m above the ground surface

Point d = (15 - 5 x 1,667) = 6,67 m above the ground surface

(b) The rate of flow through flow channel II per unit length:

(c) Total rate of flow through all the channels per unit length

2. Draw flow nets of the following case:

Sheet pile
4,5 m
Datum
0,5 m

A
h=4m

B C

h=0

6m
8,6 m

Impervious layer


From flow nets: Nf = 4,3

Nd = 12

Potential drop between 2 adjacent equipotential lines:

Total volume of flow under the sheet pile per length of sheet
pile :

Total head at every points on the same equipotential line

with number (nd) =

A piezometer at point P on equipotential line : nd=10. Total
head at point P:

3. Draw net water pressure distribution at the sheet pile.

Sheet pile

2,5 m

Datum

4m

4,7 m

4,8 m

Impermeable layer

Nd = 12

Total head at the water table (upstream) = 2,5 m

(pressure head = 0; elevation head +2,50 m)
Total heal at the ground surface in front of sheet pile
(downstream equipotential) =0 (pressure head = 4,00 m; elevation head = -4,00m)

Water pressure at both sides of sheet pile no. 1-7

example, at Surface 4, Total head behind the sheet pile:

Total heat in front of sheet pile:

Elevation heat at the surface 4 = -5,5 m

Net pressure behind the sheet pile :

Similar calculation for the other point

Example 4

q = 0,25 m3/hour
per length

Nf = 6,0
Nd = 11


Hydraulic conductivity of sand:

Hydraulic gradient below the excavated surface :

Distance (
s) between 2 last equipotential line = 0,9 m.