Assessing the performance of drains within earthworks using a numerical method

Abstract

In earthworks, drains play an important role as they help lower the groundwater level within the seepage media, thereby minimizing risks associated with high water tables. This study focuses on evaluating the performance of drainage systems in typical earthworks. The Galerkin finite element method is employed to solve the governing equation of seepage flows within porous media. In cases where unsaturated zones appear within the domain, the van Genuchten model is applied to compute the hydraulic conductivity of soils in these zones. When determining the free surface, which is the boundary between the unsaturated and saturated zones, a loop algorithm with convergence criteria is employed. Python is used to develop a computing program that integrates all of the above-mentioned theories. This program is then applied to analyze the effectiveness of drains in earth dams and behind retaining walls. The results indicate that this proposed method can be effectively used to assess the performance of drainage systems in earthworks.