Numerical Investigation of the Optimum Location for Vertical Drains in Gravity Dams

The seepage beneath a concrete dam causes an upward force acting to the dam foundation, known as uplift. Previous literatures show that implementation of drainage wells in gravity dam foundations causes a reduction in uplift forces. The main aim of these wells is to drain excess seepage flow bypassed from the cutoff wall and to reduce the uplift force. The location of the drains in the foundation plays a key role in reducing the pressure. In the present study, effect of the location of drain pipes from the upstream face of the dam (s), space among them (n) and drain’s diameter (d) in uplift force reduction is investigated. The processes of the study have been performed by the Seep/w software based on the finite element method. Results show that the use of a drain system reduced the uplift forces developed beneath the floor of the structure. If the drain is located close to the face of the dam, it may not be effective in reducing the uplift. On the other hand, shifting it too much away from the upstream face of the dam will lead to increased total uplift. It is, therefore, desirable to find out the location of the drain such that the total uplift is optimum. Optimum location of the vertical drains is not fixed, and by increasing vertical drains distances from each other and also decreasing drain diameter, optimum location would be shifted to the downstream. For example introduction of system of pipe drains to the floor of gravity dams reduced the uplift force acting on the floor by up to 80% for d/l = 0.0004, n/l = 0.024 and s/l = 0.08. This reduction in uplift becomes up to 65% for d/l = 0.0004, n/l = 0.048 and s/l = 0.12. The best location of the drain is such that the total uplift is minimum and this is presented in both design charts and algebraic equations in this study.