R. Rostamian, J. Abedi Koupai,
Volume 15, Issue 58 (3-2012)
Abstract
To optimize the use of water for agriculture, knowledge of the seepage of the channel is required. Although there are many empirical equations for estimating canal seepage, the coefficients of these equations are different from Iranian conditions and these equations vary in different areas. In this research, the ability of the SEEP model was studied to estimate the seepage from earth canals in downstream of Zayandehrud dam. Seepage from seven different earth canals (degrees of 3 and 4) was simulated with the model of SEEP and the results were compared to the water balance studies. Also, four empirical equations, Davis-Wilson, Moles worth and Yenni dumia, Moritz and Ingham were used to estimate seepage from these canals. The determination coefficients for these methods and SEEP model were obtained 9.3%, 6.7%, 37.3%, 18.3% and 87.9%, respectively. In contrast with empirical models, SEEP model has a proper ability to simulate seepage from degree 3 canals. The empirical models must be calibrated for local conditions.
M. Pakmanesh, H. Mousavi Jahromi, A. Khosrojerdi, H. Hassanpour Darvishi, Hossein Babazadeh,
Volume 25, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
The present study is investigated the earth dam stability during drawdown based on both numerical and experimental aspects. To validate the numerical model, a model was performed experimentally. Some soil mechanic tests were carried out through the hydraulic experiments to attain the usage factors of the numerical investigation. To investigate the effect of hydraulic conductivity on the rapid drop of water level and the use of hydraulic parameters of materials, seepage flow in the model was modeled by seep/w software. The input information to the software including hydraulic conductivity and water volume were measured by performing a constant load test and using a disc penetration meter, respectively. After validation of hydraulic conductivity with the experimental model, the results were compared with observed data. Comparison between numerical and laboratory discharge illustrated that the numerical model with laboratory model is well confirmed. In addition, saturated and unsaturated simulations demonstrated that the unsaturated model is highly consistent with the experimental model. It is assumed that due to the drawdown conditions, unsaturated models can achieve high accuracy for simulating the flow through a homogeneous earth dam.
H. Azadbeygi, M. Najarchi, Dr H. Lajevardi,
Volume 27, Issue 4 (12-2023)
Abstract
The present research explores the experimental and numerical investigation of homogeneous earth dams in rapid drawdown conditions. The numerical model was evaluated and calibrated due to the saturation status using the experimental model. The calculated error between the piezometric pressure data and the seepage line in the numerical and experimental model indicated that the results of the Seep/W numerical model data had acceptable accuracy. Also, to determine the thickness of the filter adjusted in the upstream side slope of the homogeneous earth dam in rapid drawdown condition, input data to the numerical model including hydraulic conductivity, rate of the water level drop (depletion of the dam reservoir in three scenarios of 2, 3, and 4 days), the different side slopes of the body (m = 1, 2, and 3), and the thickness of the filter layers were determined. It is worth mentioning that the number of layers and the soil properties of the filter materials were determined based on the USBR which consisted of three types of soil structure (sand, gravel, and gravel with sand). The maximum hydraulic gradient of the dam materials was used to estimate the thickness of the filter layers. Finally, some dimensional fewer numbers were presented to estimate the filter layers by changing the input data through the numerical model to attain the safe conditions for the values of the hydraulic gradient at the upstream side slope. Results of the numerical model indicated that for the construction of the dam with the thickness of the presented filter, the values of the available hydraulic gradient at the point of water exit from the upstream side slope of the body of the earth dam were lower than the critical hydraulic gradient of the earth dam materials in rapid drawdown condition.
