Effectiveness of impermeable core on the reduction of seepage flow in dike

Dikes system has been constructed over decades to protect people’s life and infrastructures from flooding. Once the dike fails, the consequence will be catastrophic. One of the most common reasons for dike to fail is seepage flow through dike. To minimise the occurrence of seepage flowing, clay core is being constructed within dike. In this project, the size, the location and property of clay used to build the core are being investigated using total amount of discharge and active pore water pressure. Small amount of discharge and active pore water pressure suggest that seepage flow through the dike is small. Using Plaxis programme, a step by step analysis had been adopted in this project. The size of the clay core will be examined first, followed by the location of the core and lastly, different values of clay permeability values. The main goal of the analysis is to get an optimum clay core conditions that will produce the least seepage flow. As found in the analysis, the wider the base of the core, the lesser will be the amount of water discharged and lower active pore water pressure acting. A lower active pore water pressure suggests a smaller height of water above a particular point and hence can be inferred that smaller amount of water is present. Also, centrally located clay core will yield the least amount of discharge and lowest active pore water pressure as compared to placing core at the right or left of dike. Also, clay with a lower permeability value will produce lesser discharge.Bachelor of Engineering (Civil