Stochastic Analysis of Seepage under Hydraulic Structures Resting on Anisotropic Heterogeneous Soils
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 6
Abstract
This research investigated the confined flow under hydraulic structures. The hydraulic conductivity of the soil was modeled as a spatially random field, which followed a lognormal distribution. Only porous media that have anisotropic heterogeneity were investigated. Results showed that larger anisotropic heterogeneity ratios (the ratio of horizontal to vertical scale of fluctuation) dramatically increased the seepage flow. This increase of flow was more pronounced at larger coefficients of variations. A similar trend was observed in the case of uplift force, although it was less sensitive to the increase in the anisotropic heterogeneity ratio. Moreover, both the seepage flow and the uplift force tended to their deterministic values as the ratio of anisotropic heterogeneity increased. Results also showed that the exit hydraulic gradient attained its greatest value at particular values of the anisotropic heterogeneity ratio.
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Acknowledgments
The author thanks Harold Johnston and Debra Phillips for reviewing this manuscript; their constructive comments are very much appreciated. Many thanks to the reviewers for their constructive comments, which helped improve the manuscript.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 6 • June 2013
Pages: 1001 - 1004
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 9, 2012
Accepted: Jul 31, 2012
Published online: Aug 7, 2012
Published in print: Jun 1, 2013
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