Sensitivity Analysis of Concrete Curtain for the Seepage Control of Dam Foundation

Abstract

The seepage control is one of the most important aspects of dam security measures, which is usually related to the depth, thickness, permeability of concrete curtain. Based on finite element method, this paper calculated the sensitivity of dam foundation seepage discharge with the permeability, depth, and thickness of concrete curtain. The results show that seepage discharge mainly relies on the depth of curtain in case of shallow overburden. The total seepage discharge will sharply decrease when the curtain trend to be closed. The thickness is a key factor of seepage control for a thinner concrete curtain. The effect of increasing the curtain thickness on seepage control becomes more and more unapparent as it thickening. The sensitivity of curtain permeability to the seepage discharge increases first and then decreases with the strengthening of curtain impermeability.