Influence of increased precipitation on the transient seepage through levees during flood events

Abstract

 The transient seepage through levees during a flood event depends on several factors, such as the initial water content condition within the levee as a result of former flood and precipitation events which is frequently neglected. Results of experimental and numerical investigations are presented which show the importance of the initial water content distribution on the resulting transient seepage. Analytical methods for calculating the transient seepage through levees are introduced. The modified method after Brauns (1999) allows for the determination of the seepage through levees under consideration of partly saturated conditions. The initial conditions for the transient seepage can be chosen based on simple considerations related to the field capacity or the effective infiltration of water due to precipitation.