عنوان	OPTIMIZATION OF DRAINAGE SYSTEM GEOMETRY IN EARTH-FILL DAMS A NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF SEEPAGE BEHAVIOR IN THE IRANIAN SAHAND DAM
نوع پژوهش	مقاله چاپ‌شده در مجلات علمی
کلیدواژه‌ها	Earth-fill dam seepage, SEEP/W finite element analysis, Drainage system optimization, Pore water pressure distribution, Hydraulic conductivity modelling
چکیده	This study investigates seepage behavior for the Sahand Dam, which is an earth-fill embankment situated in northwestern Iran, using SEEP/W finite element analysis software. This research compares the effectiveness of various drainage configurations for maintaining seepage control and affecting pore water pressure distribution. The dam geometry was modeled with a mesh interval of 1.1 meters, together with material parameters and boundary conditions, in order to simulate steady-state seepage conditions. Tests were conducted to contrast without and with toe drainage conditions for discharge rates across different cross-sections and reservoir levels. The result shows a decrease in seepage discharge by 4% per meter of fall in reservoir level for both cases, the imposition of toe drains curiously raising the discharge rate by 1.5% due to longer hydraulic paths. The research also analyzed the impact of horizontal and vertical drain lengths, and concluded that 50 meters long horizontal drains were most economical despite having slightly greater discharge rates. Vertical drain performance was a function of height, with considerable control of seepage only when installed at maximum reservoir elevation. Horizontal drain thickness analysis also failed to demonstrate significant correlation with discharge rates with respect to configurations tested (0.5-1.5 meters), though 1-meter thickness was found to be most economical. Results of this are most indicative in terms of optimizing the drainage system design of earth-fill dams with respect to seepage behavior and that of the drainage structure.
پژوهشگران	جعفر چابک پور (نفر اول)، رضا نوروزی (نفر دوم)، مهرداد یونسی اقدم (نفر سوم)، هازی محمد عظمت الله (نفر چهارم)