FINITE ELEMENT METHOD BASED COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SEEPAGE IN EARTHEN DAM

Abstract

Dams are the structures that are used for the storage of water. Its failure may greatly affect the surrounding locality. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the causes of failure and use preservative measures by proper designing. Among various causes, one of the major cause of failure is seepage. Seepage is an important issue that needs to be considered before designing of an Embankment Dam. Seepage through the body of the Embankment Dam adversely affects the stability of the Dam In this thesis, Analysis of seepage is carried out using Finite Element Method. Results obtained are then compared with Analytical Method. In this study, parametric study was carried out with height and slope of the embankment being the variable. Firstly, Analysis was carried out using Finite Element Method, then seepage discharge was calculated numerically using Analytical Method and the results obtained was compared. The result obtained using Finite Element method is about 12% greater than the result obtained using Analytical Method. It’s likely that the result obtained using Finite Element Method is more realistic because it has greater accuracy due to large discretization of structure and difference in result is due to difference in method.