Numerical analysis for free-surface seepage problems

Dam construction is structures that require large investment and workforce. The selection of the place to be built, the selection and supply of the materials which will be used are among the important factors. During the project phase, attention should be paid to dam type, geotechnical and hydraulic tests. In this thesis study, one of the important parameters which affects the stability of the dam body, free surface permeation analysis was investigated. Permeation is expressed as the flow of water from the upstream section of the dam to the downstream section. Despite the fact that leakage is an undesirable situation, the water in the dam reservoir causes leakage from the groundwork and inside the body. The actual leakage amount should be equal to or less than the value calculated during the project design. Otherwise, internal erosion or piping events will occur in the dam. As a result of this situation, geotechnical measures should be taken on the dam. In this study, after the earth fill dam cross-section was determined, the infiltration network lines were extracted by using the finite difference method and then the infiltration amount was calculated. After the earth fill dam was defined to the system with the Geostudio SEEP/W program, the analysis was carried out. The results obtained from the finite difference method and the GeoStudio SEEP/W program shows similarity. It is concluded from the study that engineering problems can obtain similar results with different perspectives and applicable methods.