Optimizing Core Design for Seepage Reduction in Earth Dams: A Numerical Modeling Approach

Earth dams are essential for water management, serving purposes such as flood control, hydropower generation, and water supply. The internal core, typically made of low-permeability materials like clay, is crucial for controlling seepage. The core's design, including its geometric dimensions and permeability ratio to the surrounding shell, is vital for dam safety and efficiency. This study employs numerical modeling and computational analysis to investigate how core geometry and the core-to-shell permeability ratio affect seepage discharge. Using Geo-Studio software to simulate the water flow through the dam. A parametric study was performed, and the resulting data were analyzed using statistical methods to quantify the correlation between the design parameters and seepage output. Results demonstrate that increasing core size and reducing permeability significantly minimize seepage. These findings provide a computational framework for optimizing core design, offering valuable insights for engineers to enhance the hydraulic performance of earth dams through data-driven decision-making.

کلیدواژه ها:

Earth dam ، seepage rate ، numerical modeling ، statistical analysis