Abstract
A finite element method is practical and applicable for many fields including forgeotechnical engineering structures. Seepage through earth dam is difficult toanalyse especially dams with multiple zones. Therefore, finite element is the besttool for analyzing seepage flow in an earthfill dam. The main objective of theproject is to simulate the seepage flow through an earthfill dam. Three sets ofsteady state numerical modeling are presented in the paper. Two sets ofparametric studies on long-term steady state flow were conducted usinghomogeneous and zoned earthfill dams for studying the behaviour of seepage inthe dams. The third set of the simulations is a case study, which is analysis ofsteady state seepage condition for Kuala Yong Dam, the main part of PergauHydroelectric Project, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). The seepage quantity atthe core and the downstream section were determined for the steady state flowcondition. The results of the parametric simulations show that the total fluxes atdownstream changes with the coefficient of permeability value. The flux quantitychanges linearly with maximum seepage velocity. Significant differences can beobserved in the case study, for the analysis using the coefficient of permeabilityfunction (varies with matric suction) versus analysis using a constant coefficientof permeability. Relationship between flux quantity at downstream andmaximum seepage velocity is non-linear when hydraulic conductivity function isintroduced in seepage analysis.
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