Numerical analysis of Seepage Losses in an earthen Canal by SEEP/W Simulations

Abstract

The free surface seepage is one of the most serious forms of water loss in an irrigation channel network. Nowadays, one of the most powerful and precise techniques utilized for studying the free boundary seepage problem is finite element method. In this paper a slave program of Geo-Slope Software i.e. (SEEP/W) was used for the analysis of seepage from an earthen canal which has been operational for more than hundred years. Seepage from ten different RD was simulated with SEEP/W by using the field parameters accordingly. The simulated results revealed that amongst all the cross sections the overall minimum seepage (6.13 x 10^-5 ft³/sec/ft) and maximum seepage (1.17 x 10^-3 ft³/sec/ft) occurs at RD – 120+000 and RD – 290+000 respectively. Total seepage (discharge) loss calculated by field observations and SEEP/W simulations was found 243.1 CUSEC (7.45%) and 247.9 CUSEC (8.00%) respectively. The overall statistical analysis of all the research data i.e. RMSE, ME, R.E, and EF to evaluate the performance of the models are found to be 0.78 CUSEC, 0.48 CUSEC, 2.01% and 99.80% respectively. Hence, in contrast with different field analysis methods, SEEP/W software has a proper ability to simulate seepage from earthen canals however; the numerical models must be calibrated for local conditions.