CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE 2112 SOIL MECHANICS (2014/2015)

Solutions to Practice Problems – Groundwater, Permeability and Seepage III

1. A sheet piling system with its corresponding flow net is shown on Figure 1. The
permeability of the soil is 0.02 mm/s, and its unit weight is sat = 20 kN/m3.
(a) Estimate the flow rate in m3/day per 1 m run of piling.
(b) For the element A with l = 1.5 m calculate the average velocity and the effective
vertical stress.
(c) Determine the magnitude of the effective vertical stress at the base (tip) of the
sheet pile, just immediately on its right hand side.
(d) Calculate the factor of safety against the quick condition, defined as the ratio of
the existing hydraulic gradient along the downstream face of the sheet pile to
the critical hydraulic gradient.

Sheet
Upstream Pile Downstream

3.0 m
1.5 m

4.5 m
3.0 m
A
B 6.0 m
l

Impermeable Stratum
Figure 1

(a) The flow rate is given by q = kHNF / NH = 0.00002 m/s x 3 x 5 / 11 = 2.356 m3/day/m

(b) The average velocity is v = ki = 0.00002 m/s x (3/11)/1.5 = 3.64 x 10-6 m/s
or 0.0131 m/hr

To calculate the effective stress at A;

Consider the total head at A (taking the elevation datum at the base of the layer):

If there is no flow:
Total head at A = Elevation head + Pressure head
= (3) + (4.5+1.5) = 9 m
Pressure head at A = 6 m
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

Effective stress at A = Total stress at A – pore pressure

= (1.5 x w + 4.5 x sat) - 6 x w
= (15 + 90) – 60
= 45 kN/m2

With the flow as shown on the flow net, there is some head loss by the time the
water reaches A. This head loss is given by H:= H x (2.5/11), where H = 3 m is
the total head loss from the upstream to the downstream side of the sheetpile
wall.

Hence, due to the seepage flow, total head at A = 9 - H

= 9 – 0.682 m
= 8.318 m

The elevation head at A is still unchanged at 3 m.

Hence, the pressure head at A = total head – elevation head

= 8.318 – 3
= 5.318 m

Total stress at A is unchanged = (1.5 x w + 4.5 x sat) = 105 kN/m2

Effective stress at A = Total stress at A – pore pressure

= 105 - 5.318 x w
= 105 - 53.18
= 51.82 kN/m2

(c) The head loss at the base (tip) of the sheet pile, Pt B, just immediately on its right
hand side is H= H x (6/11) = 3 x 6/11 = 1.64 m.

Hence, the total head at Pt B = 9 – 1.64 = 7.36 m.

The elevation head at Pt B = 3 m.

Hence, the pressure head at B = total head – elevation head

= 7.36 – 3
= 4.36 m.

The total stress at B = sat x 3 = 60 kN/m2.

Hence, the effective stress at B = total stress at B – pore pressure at B

= 60 – pressure head at B x w
= 60 – 4.36 x 10
= 60 – 43.6
= 17.4 kN/m2.

(d) At the tip of the sheet pile wall, the pressure head = 4.36 m (see part (c)),
the elevation head = 3 m
the total head = 7.36 m.
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

At the top of the soil (downstream side), the pressure head = 0 m.

the elevation head = 6 m.
the total head = 6 m.

The distance between the tip of the wall and the top of the soil (downstream side) =
3m.

The existing hydraulic gradient = dh/dl = (7.36 – 6)/3 = 0.453.

The critical hydraulic gradient = ’/w = (20-10)/10 = 1

The factor of safety = critical hydraulic gradient / existing hydraulic gradient

= 1/ 0.453
= 2.21.

(Note that the question is phrased wrongly. The factor of safety should be defined as
the ratio of the critical hydraulic gradient to the existing hydraulic gradient along the
downstream face of the sheet pile.)
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

2. A flow net for flow around a single row of sheet piles in a permeable soil layer is
shown in Figure 2. Given that kx = ky = k = 4.2 x 10-3 cm/sec, determine

(a) How high (above the ground surface) the water will rise if piezometers are placed
at points a, b, c and d.
(b) The rate of seepage beneath the sheet pile wall per unit length (perpendicular to
the section shown).

Sheet Pile

5m

Ground surf ace 1.5 m

10 m
a

b
d

Impermeable
Layer

Figure 2

(a) If there is no flow, the water in the piezometer at point a will rise to 5 m above
the ground surface.

For the flow net shown, the total head loss H = 5 – 1.5 = 3.5 m.

Point a

The head loss from the ground surface to point a = (1/6)xH = 3.5/6 = 0.583m.

Hence the water in the piezometer at point a will rise to (5 – 0.583) = 4.417 m
above the ground surface.

Point b
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

The head loss from the ground surface to point b = (2/6)xH = 3.5/3 = 1.167m.

Hence the water in the piezometer at point b will rise to (5 – 1.167) = 3.833 m
above the ground surface.

Point c

The head loss from the ground surface to point c = (5/6)xH = 3.5x5/6 =
2.917m.

Hence the water in the piezometer at point c will rise to (5 – 2.917) = 2.083 m
above the ground surface.

Point d

The head loss from the ground surface to point d = (5/6)xH = 3.5x5/6 =
2.917m. (Point d falls on the same equipotential line as point c.)

Hence the water in the piezometer at point d will rise to (5 – 2.917) = 2.083 m
above the ground surface.

(b) The rate of seepage is given by q = kHNF / NH = 0.000042 m/s x 3.5 x 3 / 6 =

7.35 x 10-5 m3/sec/m
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

3. In Figure 3, the dimensions are:

H1 = 6 m D=3m
H2 = 1.5 m D1 = 6 m

Draw the corresponding flow net, and calculate the seepage loss per metre length of
the sheet pile (perpendicular to the cross section shown).

Sheet Pile

H1

Ground surf ace H2

D1

k = 4 x 10-4 cm/s

Impermeable
Layer

Figure 3

Sheet Pile

6m

Ground surf ace 1.5 m

6m

Impermeable
Layer

The seepage loss is given by q = kHNF / NH = 0.000004 m/s x 4.5 x 4 / 8

= 9 x 10-6 m3/sec/m
= 0.7776 m3/day/m
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

4. Refer to Figure 3 again, this time with the following dimensions:

H1 = 3 m D = 1.5 m
H2 = 0.5 m D1 = 3.75 m

Draw the corresponding flow net, and calculate the seepage loss per metre length of
the sheet pile (perpendicular to the cross section shown).

Sheet Pile

3m

Ground surf ace 0.5 m

1.5 m

3.75 m

Impermeable
Layer

The seepage loss is given by q = kHNF / NH = 0.000004 m/s x 2.5 x 3 / 5

= 6 x 10-6 m3/sec/m
= 0.5184 m3/day/m
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

5. A concrete dam has a base length of 8 m and retains 5 m of water as shown on

Figure 5. The water level on the downstream side is 1 m above the ground surface.
Under the dam there exists an 8 m thick layer of isotropic permeable soil with the k
values as shown on Figure 5. Calculate the flow rate under the concrete dam in
m3/day (per m into the plane of the paper).

y
5m
1m
11 m

9.5 m kx = ky = 1 x 10-5 m/sec

impermeable stratum
Figure 5

5m
1m

9.5 m

Q = kH(NF /Nd ) = (1 x 10-5) x 4 x (3/6) = 2 x 10-5 m3/s = 2 x 10-5 x 86400 m3/d

= 1.728 m3 /day
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

6. The dam shown in Figure 6 is similar to that of Figure 5 (Question 5) except that the
base length is 5 m. All other dimensions and soil properties are unchanged, as in
Question 5.

Sketch the flow net and calculate the flow rate under the concrete dam in m3/day
(per m into the plane of the paper).

5m
1m
5m

9.5 m kx = ky = 1 x 10-5 m/sec

impermeable stratum
Figure 6

5m
1m

9.5 m

Q = kH(NF /Nd ) = (1 x 10-5) x 4 x (5/8) = 2.5 x 10-5 m3/s = 2.5 x 10-5 x 86400 m3/d
= 2.16 m3 /day
 CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

7. The dam shown in Figure 7 is similar to that of Figure 6 (Question 6) except that
there is a horizontal impermeable blanket of 5 m length added to the system at the
upstream side. All other dimensions and soil properties are unchanged, as in
Question 6.

Sketch the flow net and calculate the flow rate under the concrete dam in m3/day
(per m into the plane of the paper).

5m impermeable
blanket
1m
5m 5m

9.5 m kx = ky = 1 x 10-5 m/sec

impermeable stratum
Figure 7

5m impermeable
blanket
1m

9.5 m

Q = kH(NF /Nd ) = (1 x 10-5) x 4 x (4/8) = 2 x 10-5 m3/s = 2 x 10-5 x 86400 m3/d

= 1.728 m3 /day
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

8. Sketch the flow net corresponding to the dam reservoir shown below in Figure 8.
Estimate the flow rate beneath the dam in m3 /day per m (into the plane of the paper).
The dam is built on silty sand which has a permeability of kx = ky = 2 x 10-3 cm/s.

10 m

silty sand
kx = ky = 2 x 10-3 cm/sec

Impermeable layer
Figure 8

10 m

Q = kH(NF /Nd ) = (2 x 10-5)x10x(5/12) = 8.333x10-5 m3/s = 8.333x10-5x86400 m3/d

= 7.2 m3 /day/m
 CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

9. For the same dam reservoir considered in Qn 8, calculate the uplift force acting on
the dam with the help of your flow net solution. You may use the dimensions shown
on Figure 9 below, where the height of water retained behind the dam is 6h = 10m.

6h =
10 m

2h
45 45

h h 11 h h h

Figure 9

From the solution of Qn 8, the flow net has 12 potential drops, and H = 10m.
Hence, the head loss for each drop = (10/12) = 5/6 m or 0.833 m.

Refer to points D, E , F, G, H and I in the figure below. We want to calculate the

pressure heads acting at these locations.

3.34 m
F 1.67 m G

D E H I
1.67 m 1.67 m 18.32 m 1.67 m 1.67 m
Pressure Head (m)

4.59

5.83

5
10.83

8.76
11.66
CE2112 SOIL MECHANICS 2012/2013

Pressure head at D = (10+3.33) – 2 x 0.833 = 11.664 m.

Similarly,

Pressure head at E = (10+3.33) – 3 x 0.833 = 10.831 m.

Pressure head at F = (10+1.67) – 3.5 x 0.833 = 8.755 m.
Pressure head at G = (10+1.67) – 8.5 x 0.833 = 4.59 m.
Pressure head at H = (10+3.33) – 9 x 0.833 = 5.833 m.
Pressure head at I = (10+3.33) – 10 x 0.833 = 5 m.

The pressure heads calculated above are shown on the figure on the previous page.

The hydraulic uplift force per unit length of the structure can now be calculated as

= w x area of the pressure head diagram x 1 m (into the paper)

= 10 x [0.5x(11.664+10.831)x1.67 + 0.5x(10.831+8.755)x1.67
+0.5x(8.755+4.59)x18.33 + 0.5x(4.59+5.833)x1.67
+0.5x(5.833+5)x1.67]

= 10 x [18.783 + 16.354 + 122.298 + 8.703 + 9.046)

= 1752 kN/m