Practical Application of Blanket Theory and the Finite-Element Method to Levee Underseepage Analysis
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 4
Abstract
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ blanket theory has been successfully used to evaluate levee underseepage for many years. The method was developed from closed-form analytical solutions based on the principles of groundwater hydrology. More recently, the proliferation of computing resources has made finite-element analysis (FEA) a tool that is easily accessible to many geotechnical engineers. This study compares the results of blanket theory to FEA to delineate conditions in which the two methods provide essentially the same solution. The assumptions inherent to blanket theory are reviewed to provide designers with an understanding of its usefulness and limitations. Guidelines are provided for correctly assigning FEA boundary conditions that are consistent with the assumptions of blanket theory. For cases in which all of the assumptions are satisfied, the volumetric flow rate and excess head at the levee toe predicted by blanket theory were within 10% of those determined by using FEA.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the support provided by the USACE for conducting this research. Mr. Noah Vroman of Vicksburg District of the Corps of Engineers and Ms. Martha Jimenez, a graduate student at Virginia Tech, also provided valuable assistance during this research.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 4 • April 2015
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 30, 2014
Accepted: Nov 19, 2014
Published online: Jan 5, 2015
Published in print: Apr 1, 2015
Discussion open until: Jun 5, 2015
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