Quantity of Seepage in Length of Dam under Consideration Calculator

Seepage Quantity Formula:

\[ Q = \frac{k \times B \times H_L \times L}{N} \]

Coefficient of Permeability of Soil (k):

m/s

Number of Beds (B):

Loss of Head (H_L):

Length of Dam (L):

Equipotential Lines (N):

Quantity of Seepage (Q):

1. What is Quantity of Seepage in Length of Dam under Consideration?

Definition: This calculator estimates the quantity of water seepage through a dam based on soil permeability, number of beds, head loss, dam length, and equipotential lines.

Purpose: It helps civil engineers and hydrologists determine water seepage rates which is crucial for dam safety and stability assessments.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

\[ Q = \frac{k \times B \times H_L \times L}{N} \]

Where:

\( Q \) — Quantity of seepage (m³/s)
\( k \) — Coefficient of permeability of soil (m/s)
\( B \) — Number of beds (dimensionless)
\( H_L \) — Loss of head (m)
\( L \) — Length of dam (m)
\( N \) — Equipotential lines (dimensionless)

Explanation: The formula calculates seepage quantity by considering soil permeability, hydraulic gradient (represented by head loss and equipotential lines), and the dam's dimensions.

3. Importance of Seepage Calculation

Details: Accurate seepage calculation helps prevent dam failures, ensures structural integrity, and maintains water retention efficiency.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

Enter coefficient of permeability (typically 10^-4 to 10^-9 m/s for soils)
Number of beds and equipotential lines are integers
Head loss and dam length are in meters
All values must be > 0
±5% indicates typical measurement tolerance

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is coefficient of permeability?
A: It measures how easily water flows through soil. Clay has low values (10^-9 m/s), gravel has high values (10^-1 m/s).

Q2: How to determine number of equipotential lines?
A: This comes from flow net analysis - count the spaces between equipotential lines in your flow net.

Q3: Why is ±5% tolerance shown?
A: Field measurements typically have this margin of error for soil properties and hydraulic parameters.

Q4: What's a typical head loss value?
A: Depends on dam height and water levels, typically 1-10 meters for small to medium dams.

Q5: How does seepage affect dam safety?
A: Excessive seepage can cause piping (soil particle movement), leading to dam failure if uncontrolled.