×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Dry flood proofing with a flood wall

Dry flood proofing with a flood wall

Dry flood proofing with a flood wall

(OP)
I intend to keep flood waters out of a space (a large parking area at grade) with a flood wall. When if ever do I need to worry about the flood waters seeping below the wall and either imparting a buoyant force on the slab or simply flooding the space? Ie I don't want to spend the money on waterproofing the slab or reinforcing it for the buoyant force. Levees and sandbags hold back flood waters. I assume the time an area is flooded and the porosity of the soils are relevant and that a calculation can be done. Does FEMA or another source define this risk?

RE: Dry flood proofing with a flood wall

the water will seep below the wall. a transient seepage analysis based on the depth and duration of the flood loading will give you an idea of how long it will take. This is a task for a qualified, experienced geotechnical engineer. I would not suggest that a structural engineer attempt this without prior experience.

In addition to oldest guys recommendation, suggest the following:
EM 1110-2-2502 Retaining and Flood Walls
EM 1110-2-1901 Seepage Analysis and Control for Dams

RE: Dry flood proofing with a flood wall

(OP)
Thanks, this is the kind of reading i was looking for.

RE: Dry flood proofing with a flood wall

OG once more. The seepage that may occur may or may not be critical. But for your question " When if ever do I need to worry about the flood waters seeping below the wall ", a short comment. Critical is the head loss of the seepage water as it emerges. When the loss of head approaches 1 foot in one foot of flow, you have quick sand. Along with that can be major failure of the wall.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources