Seepage Analysis Using the Composite Element Method

Abstract

In this chapter the research interest is directed to the simulation of seepage field, which takes into account of both the discontinuities and drainage holes explicitly located within composite elements. It is an algorithm competent to the structural problems formulated in Chap. 15. As the first step, the “air element” model filled with a virtual matter of much higher permeability is proposed to eliminate the strong dependence of computation mesh on the deployment of drainage holes. Then the presence of discontinuities and drainage holes transfers a number of finite elements into composite elements. The p-refinement is further implemented to enlarge the shape function space, in this way the complex flow pattern in a composite element may be handled appropriately, and the restraints on the mesh generation can be further relaxed. This chapter is closed with a number of validation examples and two successful engineering application cases related to sluice foundation and dam foundation.