The Influence of a Fracture in a Rectangular Dam on the Pressure Gradient and the Phreatic Surface

The shape of the phreatic surface inside a non-homogeneous dam is a unique function of hydraulic conductivity. Consequently, monitoring the phreatic surface can reveal possible deterioration of the inner part of the dam. Two-dimensional flow through an idealized dam with an artificial fracture is studied both theoretically and experimentally in a Hele–Shaw cell. The theoretical solution is a generalization of Baiocchi's solution. The results show that the method for identifying a possible imperfection in a dam works better for a wide homogeneous dam than for a rock fill dam with a narrow core.