Random Characteristics of Hydraulic Gradient through Three-Dimensional Multilayer Embankment

The distribution characteristics of hydraulic gradient in embankment are closely related to seepage failure. Seepage failures such as flowing soil and piping will lead to serious damage and even the overall failure of embankment. The hydraulic conductivity has strong spatial variability, which changes the distribution of hydraulic gradient in embankment and increases the difficulty for predicting the embankment seepage instability. In this study, the distribution of soil hydraulic conductivity in a section of Shijiu Lake embankment was obtained by the permeability test. Based on Local Average Subdivision technique, a three-dimensional multilayer random field of embankment hydraulic conductivity was generated. Then, the mean and standard deviation of overflow point height and hydraulic gradient were calculated by the Monte Carlo method, which combined the generated three-dimensional random model and the deterministic analysis method of seepage field. Finally, the coefficient of variation (COV) of hydraulic conductivity (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0), the fluctuation scale in vertical direction (3 m) and the fluctuation scale in horizontal plane (3 m, 6 m, 12 m, 24 m, 36 m, and 48 m) were selected respectively for analyzing the random characteristics of embankment overflow point height and hydraulic gradient under the influence of different COV and fluctuation scale of embankment soil hydraulic conductivity.

Effect of domestic greywater reuse for irrigation on soil physical and chemical characteristics and tomatoes growth.

This study aimed at determining the effect of laundry greywater on the growth of tomatoes and physical and chemical properties of a sandy loam Perrox in the Eastern province of Rwanda, Kayonza district, Mwiri sector. The experimental design consisted of plots planted with tomatoes (Lepersicon Esculantum) in a randomized complete block design with three replications and four treatments. Treatment 1: Tomatoes irrigated with pure greywater; Treatment 2: Tomatoes irrigated with a mixture of tap water and greywater at 1:1 ratio; Treatment 3: Alternation of greywater and tap water in a consecutive manner; and Treatment 4: only tap water serving as a control. Results showed that the following soil chemical parameters were significantly increased with greywater application: pH, EC, Av P, Na and SAR. Conversely, soil concentration in Mg and Ca significantly decreased with increase in greywater application. With the exception of soil bulk density, other measured physical properties such as soil hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability and porosity were significantly reduced with greywater application. The highest values for soil hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability and porosity were found for soil irrigated with tap water which ranged between 1.01 to 2.1 times higher than that of greywater, mixed or alternated with tap water. The alternate application of greywater and tap water did not affect significantly the stem height and weight of tomatoes. We concluded that the absence of positive growth effect of application of greywater was due to low concentration in essential plant nutrients in greywater, and induced adverse effects on soil chemical, physical, and biological properties. However, alternate application of the greywater and tap water preserved approximately the same soil physico-chemical characteristics as with application of tap water. Thus, among the irrigation treatments involving greywater, the latter should be considered as the most environmentally friendly. We propose combination of greywater with various forms of composts as the one of the most promising investigations on the reuse of greywater in irrigation.

Large-scale lateral saturated soil hydraulic conductivity as metric for the connectivity of the subsurface flow paths at hillslope scale

Lateral saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, Ks,l, is the soil property governing subsurface water transfer in hillslopes, and the key parameter in many numerical models simulating hydrological processes both at the hillslope and catchment scales. Likewise, the hydrological connectivity of lateral flow paths plays a significant role in determining the intensity of the subsurface flow at various spatial scales. The objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between Ks,l and hydraulic connectivity at the hillslope spatial scale. Ks,l was determined by the subsurface flow rates intercepted by drains, and by water table depths observed in a well network. Hydraulic connectivity of the lateral flow paths was evaluated by the synchronicity among piezometric peaks, and between the latter and the peaks of drained flow. Soil moisture and precipitation data were used to investigate the influence of the transient hydrological soil condition on connectivity and Ks,l. It was found that the higher was the synchronicity of the water table response between wells, the lower was the time lag between the peaks of water levels and those of the drained subsurface flow. Moreover, the most synchronic water table rises determined the highest drainage rates. The relationships between Ks,l and water table depths were highly non-linear, with a sharp increase of the values for water table levels close to the soil surface. Estimated Ks,l values for the full saturated soil were in the order of thousands of mm h-1, suggesting the activation of macropores in the root zone. The Ks,l values determined at the peak of the drainage events were correlated with the indicators of synchronicity. The sum of the antecedent soil moisture and of the precipitation was correlated with the indicators of connectivity and with Ks,l. We suggest that, for simulating realistic processes at the hillslope scale, the hydraulic connectivity could be implicitly considered in hydrological modelling through an evaluation of Ks,l at the same spatial scale.

Effect of the dewatering on the surrounding terrains during the construction of Metrostation 9-III of the Sofia Metropoliten

The international practice often faces significant settlements of terrains and structures due to dewatering. This study presents of the dewatering impact during the construction of Metrostation 9-III from the Sofia Metropoliten on the surrounding terrains and buildings. The subsidences are quantified for specific values of the soil deformation modulus and varying values of the soil hydraulic conductivity.

Assessment of hydraulic conductivity improvement due to vibration application at riverbank

Groundwater abstraction is a process of obtaining subsurface water sources for variety purpose of consumption. However, due to long and continuous pumping, the efficiency might decrease because of soil clogging. This decreased can be quantified and reflected as the change of hydraulic conductivity (K) values at the pumping site. This study aims to assess the variability of soil hydraulic conductivity at groundwater pumping site and also to study the effectiveness of vibration method to improve the hydraulic conductivity by comparing the result of before and after vibration is applied. The study was carried out by measuring the K values using slug test at wells MW01 and MW02 with two durations of vibration which were 45 minutes and 60 minutes. The result shows that values of hydraulic conductivity of the soil were found to have increased for both MW0l and MW02 wells. On first trial, the hydraulic conductivity increases for MW0l and MW02 are 16.7% and 39.3% while on second trial, the percentage increases for MW01 and MW02 are 54.3% and 11.1% respectively. Although the change for MW02 decreased for 60 minutes vibration, it can still be noted as there is a positive impact of vibration to the K value and further extensive data collection will be able to provide better assessment. Thus, it has been proven that the vibration method can be effective in reducing the soil clogging effect and also able to improve the hydraulic conductivity of the soil.

River Buffer Effectiveness in Controlling Surface Runoff Based on Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity

In tropical Indonesia, rainforests are managed by an intensive forest management system (IFMS). The IFMS has promoted selective logging for timber harvesting and intensive line planting to enrich the standing stock. The implementation of the IFMS has reduced the forest canopy cover, disturbed the surface soil, changed the soil hydraulic properties, and increased direct runoff and soil erosion. Investigation of the IFMS impact on soil hydraulic properties and the generation of surface runoff using a saturated hydraulic conductivity model is needed. Soil hydraulic properties were investigated on 11 plots, including one virgin forest plot and 10 plots at different operational periods of the IFMS. A two-dimensional saturated soil water flow simulation was applied to generate surface runoff from different periods of the IFMS. The main parameters of canopy cover, net rainfall, and saturated hydraulic conductivity were used in the simulations. A simulation scenario of a surface runoff hydrograph in different forest operations was used to analyze the river buffer effectiveness. The results showed that fundamental IFMS activities associated with mechanized selective logging and intensive line planting have reduced the soil hydraulic conductivity within the near-surface profile. The recovery time for near-surface Ks on non-skidder tracks was between 10 and 15 years, whereas on the skidder tracks it was more than 20 years. Forest disturbances have altered the typical surface hydrological pathways, thereby creating the conditions for more surface runoff on disturbed surfaces than on undisturbed surfaces. Maintaining the buffer area is an effective means to reduce the peak discharge and surface runoff in the stream channel.