Analysis of Seepage through Dams and in Foundation by Finite Element Method

Abstract

This paper describes the application of finite element method to the steady state confined and uncofined flow problems in porous media.
In the unconfined flow analysis, in particular, the detailed method of estimating the free surface and its exit point was shown.
Furthermore, the effective stress distribution due to seepage flow in an earth dam was calculated by means of the finite element method.
From this calculation, we found that the compressive principal stress due to seepage flow reaches about fifty percent of the stress due to the earth dam's own weight near the downstream face of the dam.