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The Influence of a Fracture in a Rectangular Dam on the Pressure Gradient and the Phreatic Surface

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Abstract

The shape of the phreatic surface inside a non-homogeneous dam is a unique function of hydraulic conductivity. Consequently, monitoring the phreatic surface can reveal possible deterioration of the inner part of the dam. Two-dimensional flow through an idealized dam with an artificial fracture is studied both theoretically and experimentally in a Hele–Shaw cell. The theoretical solution is a generalization of Baiocchi's solution. The results show that the method for identifying a possible imperfection in a dam works better for a wide homogeneous dam than for a rock fill dam with a narrow core.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Royal Institute of Technology, S-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    P.G. Martinet & G. Rehbinder

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  1. P.G. Martinet
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  2. G. Rehbinder
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Martinet, P., Rehbinder, G. The Influence of a Fracture in a Rectangular Dam on the Pressure Gradient and the Phreatic Surface. Flow, Turbulence and Combustion 62, 275–293 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009935919780

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009935919780

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