Uncertainty Quantification of Transient Unsaturated Seepage through Embankment Dams

Calamak M., YANMAZ A. M.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMECHANICS, cilt.17, sa.6, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 17 Sayı: 6
  • Basım Tarihi: 2017
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1061/(asce)gm.1943-5622.0000823
  • Dergi Adı: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMECHANICS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Sensitivity analysis, Earth-fill dams, Monte Carlo simulation, Transient seepage, Spatial variability, STOCHASTIC-ANALYSIS, SPATIAL VARIABILITY, GROUNDWATER-FLOW, POROUS-MEDIA, HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY, HETEROGENEOUS SOILS, SUBSURFACE FLOWS, FINITE DOMAINS, DISTRIBUTIONS, MODELS
  • TED Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the effects of uncertainty in hydraulic conductivity and van Genuchten parameters on transient seepage. To this end, a random number generator is used to generate random values from probability distributions of each parameter. The generator is coupled with finite-element software that handles seepage analysis in porous media. The Monte Carlo simulation approach is adopted for stochastic seepage analyses. The suggested method is applied on a homogeneous dam made of clayey sand. Uncertainties in each parameter are considered individually in different cases for rapid drawdown and rapid fill conditions. The results show that a variation of hydraulic conductivity has significant effects on transient seepage, and it is suggested that it should be treated as a random variable. However, the effects of the van Genuchten parameters on seepage are found to be insignificant, such that they can be treated as deterministic variables.