Seepage analyses in the foundation and body of earth dam using numerical modeling -A case study

Dams are mainly constructed of earth and rock-fill materials and hence they are generally referred to as embankment dams orfill-type dams. The role of drainage system is also vital as it shifts the phreatic surface ensuring the safety of downstreamtoe. This paper presents the results of seepage analyses of the considered earth dam using finite element method. Slide software is one of geotechnical program that is based on the finite element and canconsider analysis like stress-strain, seepage, slope stability, dynamic analysis and also fast water drop inreservoir. In this research seepage analysis in Roudbar Lorestan dam has been done by Slide software. In orderto evaluate the type and size of mesh size on the total flow rate and total head through the dam cross section,four mesh size such as coarse, medium, fine and unstructured mesh is considered. Result showed that averageflow rate of leakage under the different mesh size for Roudbar Lorestan dam equal 629584 m3 per year for the entire lengthof the dam.