Non-linear flow through rockfill embankments

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article considers experimental data from throughflow investigations conducted on rockfill dams and adds to the state of the art in the study discipline of non-linear flow through rockfill medium, which previously has been limited to permeameter studies. The experimental program consisted of throughflow tests conducted on three different rockfill dam model setups comprising of a large-scale test conducted on a 6 m high homogenous rockfill dam and 1:10 and 1:5 scale models of the same tested in laboratory settings. The test dams were composed of uniformly graded rockfill with median particle sizes ranging from 10.2 to 350 mm. Based on statistical analysis conducted on the experimental data sets, a general non-Darcy type power-law describing non-linear flow through homogenous rockfill dams is proposed. Also, some of the well-known power-law relationships from the available literature are validated employing the experimental data sets.