PHREATIC LINE OF AN EARTH

DAM
 PHREATIC LINE OF AN EARTH DAM
 Let us now consider the case of a homogeneous earth dam with a
horizontal filter, as shown in Fig 1.

 In order to draw the flow net, it is first essential to find the location and
shape of the phreatic line or the top flow line separating the saturated
and unsaturated zones.

 The phreatic line or seepage line is defined as the line within a dam
section below which there are positive hydrostatic pressures in the dam.

 The hydrostatic pressure on the phreatic line itself is atmospheric. The

phreatic line can be located by
 Analytical Method
 Graphical Method
 Experimental Method
 Fig. 1 Parabolic Flow (After Kozney )

Fig. 2 Casagrande’s Method of Determining Phreatic Line in a

Dam with Horizontal Drainage Filter
 We shall first discuss the graphical method of determination of
phreatic line suggested by Casagrande.

Casagrande Method

 An analytically derived flow net has been given by Kozeny (1931) for
the case of water flowing above an impervious, infinite, horizontal
plane which at a certain point A becomes permeable.

 Kozeny’s solution consists of a family of confocal parabolas

representing the flow lines and the equipotential lines.

 The point A where the floor becomes permeable represents the focus
for the parabolas.
 Casagrande (1940) established that the actual top flow line or the
phreatic line in a homogeneous earth dam corresponds very closely to
the solution of Kozeny, except at the entrance and exit ends, where it
has to suit the boundry conditions. Kozeny’s top flow line is called
the basic or base parabola.

 Casagrande assumed the starting point F of the filter FE (Fig. 2) as

the focus.

 The following is the procedure for locating the phreatic line

graphically:

1. AB is the upstream face. Let its horizontal projection be L. On

the water surface, measure a distance BC = 0.3L. Then the point
C is the starting point of the base parabola.
2. To locate the directrix of the parabola, we utilise the principle that
any point on the parabola is equidistant from the focus as well as
from the directrix.

3. Hence with point C as the centre and CF as the radius, drawn an

arc to cut the horizontal line through CB in D. Draw a vertical
tangent to the curve FD at D. Evidently, CD = CF. Hence the
vertical line DH is the directrix.

4. The last point G on the parabola will lie midway between F and H.

5. In order to locate the intermediate points on the parabola we use

the principle that its distances from the focus and directrix must be
equal.
6. For example, to locate any point P , draw vertical line QP at any
distance x from F. Measure QH. With F as the centre and QH as
the radius, draw an arc to cut vertical line through Q in point P.
7. Join all these points to get the base parabola. However, some
correction is to be made at the entry point.

8. The phreatic line must start from B and not from C. Also, the
phreatic line is a flow line, and must start perpendicularly to the
u/s face AB which is 100 % equipotential line.

9. Hence the portion of the portion of the phreatic line at B is

sketched free hand in such a way that it starts perpendicularly to
AB, and meets the rest of the parabola tangentially without any
kink.

10. The base parabola should also meet the d/s filter perpendicularly
(i.e., vertically) at G.
Analytical Method
 In order to find the equation of the base parabola, consider any point P
on it, with co-ordinates (x, y) with respect to the focus F as origin.

 From the property of the parabola, we have PF = QH

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑄𝐹 +FH = x + s ( where s = FH =focal distance) (Eq 1)

𝑦 2 −𝑠 2
 From (Eq 1) , 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑠2 + 2𝑥𝑠 𝑜𝑟 x= (Eq.2)
2𝑠
and
𝑦 2 = 2𝑥𝑠 + 𝑠 2 (Eq.3)

 This is the equation of the parabola. Taking various values of x, the

values of y can be calculated from Eq 3 and the parabola can be
plotted.
 The distance s can either be determined graphically (Fig 1) or can be
calculated analytically by considering the co-ordinates of point C, as
follows :
From (Eq 1),
s = ( 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 𝑥)
At C, x = D and y = H (Fig. 2)
s = 𝐷2 + 𝐻2 − 𝐷 (Eq. 4)

Discharge through the body of the dam

 In order to get an expression for the discharge q through the body of the
dam for present case of horizontal filter, we observe that through the
vertical section PQ
𝑑𝑦
q = kiA = k 𝑦 (Eq. 5)
𝑑𝑥
 But from ( Eq.3), y = (2𝑥𝑠 + 𝑠 2 )1/2
𝑑𝑦 𝑠
or =
𝑑𝑥 (2𝑥𝑠+ 𝑠2 )1/2
 Substituting in Eq. 5, we get
𝑠
q=k x (2𝑥𝑠 + 𝑠 2 )1/2
(2𝑥𝑠+ 𝑠 )
2 1/2

or q = ks

 This is very simple expression for discharge q in terms of focal distance s.

 PHREATIC LINE IN AN EARTH DAM WITH NO FILTER

 Fig. 3 shows a homogeneous earth dam with no horizontal drainage

filter at the d/s side.

 The focus in this case will be lowest point F of the d/s slope, and the
base parabola BJG will evidently cut the d/s slope, at j and extend
beyond the limit of the dam, as shown by dotted line.

 However, according to exit conditions (Fig 4), the phreatic line must
emerge out at some point K meeting the d/s face tangentially there.

 The portion KF is then known as the discharge face, and always

remains wet.

 The correction a, by which the parabola is to be shifted downwards,

a
is found by the values of given by Casagrande (Fig 5) for various
a+a
values of slope  of the discharge face.
 The slope  can even exceed the value of 90, specially in the case of
rockfill toe, shown in Fig 4 (c).

a
 Thus, we observe that = value found from Fig. 5 (Eq. 7)
a+a
and
a + a = JF = value found from Fig 3 (Eq. 8)
 Solving Eq. 7 and Eq. 8, the value a 𝑜𝑓 a can be found.

Fig. 3 Dam with no Drainage Filter

Fig. 4 Exit conditions for various slopes of the Discharge Face

a
Fig. 5 Relation Between  and
a+a
 ANALYTICAL SOLUTION OF SCHAFFERNAK AND VAN
ITERSON   30
 In order to find the value of a analytically, Schaffernak and Van
Iterson(1917) assumed that the energy means that the gradient is equal
to the slope of the line of seepage, which is approximately true so long
as the slope is gentle (i.e.,   30).

Fig. 6 Schaffernak’s Method

• For vertical section KK1
𝑑𝑦
q=k 𝑦 (Eq. 9)
𝑑𝑥
But
𝑑𝑦
= i = tan
𝑑𝑥
and y = KK1 = a sin 
• Substituting in Eq.9, We get q = ka sin  tan (Eq.10)
• This is the expression for the discharge.

• Again,
𝑑𝑦
q= k 𝑦 = ka sin  tan
𝑑𝑥
a sin  tan dx = y dy

• Integrating between the limits x = a cos  to x = d

and y = a sin  to y = H,
• we get
𝑑 𝑑
a sin  tan 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝐻 2 −𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
or a sin  tan (d – a cos ) =
2

• From which, we obtain, after simplification

𝑑 𝑑2 𝐻2
a= - −
cos  𝑐𝑜𝑠 2  𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
 ANALYTICAL SOLUTION OF LEO CASAGRANDE FOR 30 
60
 It will be observed that the previous solution gives satisfactory results
for slope  30.

 For steeper slopes, the deviation form correct values increases rapidly
beyond tolerable limits. Leo Casagrande (1932) suggested the use of
sin  instead of tan .

 Thus,
𝑑𝑦
q = kiA = k A (Eq. 12)
𝑑𝑠
𝑑𝑦
 At K, s = a and y = a sin  = A; = sin 
𝑑𝑠
( where s = distance measured along the curve )

 Substituting in Eq 12, We get q = k sin  a sin  = ka sin2  (Eq. 13)

 Again,
𝑑𝑦
q = k y = ka sin2 
𝑑𝑠
a sin2  ds = y dy

 Integrating between the limits s = a to s = S

(where S = total length of the parabola )
and y = a sin  to y = H,

 we get
𝑠 𝐻
a sin2  𝑎
𝑑𝑠 = 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝐻 2 −𝑎2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
or a sin2  ( S-a) =
2
𝐻2
or 𝑎2 - 2aS + =0
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
𝐻2
 From which a = S - 𝑆2 −
𝑠𝑖𝑛2 
 Taking S  (𝐻 2 + 𝑑2 )1/2 we get
𝐻2
a= 𝐻2 + 𝑑2 - 𝐻2 + 𝑑2− 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 
= 𝐻2 + 𝑑2 - 𝑑2 − 𝐻2 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 

Fig. 7 Casagrande’s Method

Example
For the earth dam of homogeneous section with a horizontal filter as
shown in Fig. , draw the phreatic line. If coefficient of permeability of the
soil material used in dam 5 x 10-4 cm/sec, find the seepage flow per unit
length of the dam.
Solution
 Taking the focus as the origin, the equation of the parabola is
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = x + s
 The parabola cuts the reservoir water surface at C, such that
FC = (146 -30 -72) + 21.6 = 65.6 m
and
CC = 18 m
s = 65.62 + 182 - 65.6 = 2.42m
 The equation of the parabola is, there fore,
y = 2𝑠𝑥 + 𝑠 2 = 4.84𝑥 + 5.85
 The co ordinates of the parabola are tabulated below

x 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 65.6
y 2.42 7.36 10.11 12.30 14.1 15.7 17.25 18