3.

Khosla’s Theory (1936)

The seepage water does not creep along the outlines of
hydraulic structure as started by Bligh, but on the other
hand, this water moves along a set of stream-lines. This
steady seepage in a vertical plane for a homogeneous soil
can be expressed by Laplacian equation:

=0

The above equation represents two sets of curves

intersecting each other orthogonally. The resultant flow
diagram showing both of the curves is called a Flow Net.
Stream Lines: The streamlines represent the paths along which
the water flows through the sub-soil. Every particle entering the
soil at a given point upstream of the work, will trace out its own
path and will represent a streamline. The first streamline follows
the bottom contour of the works and is the same as Bligh’s path
of creep. The remaining streamlines follows smooth curves
transiting slowly from the outline of the foundation to a semi-
ellipse, as shown below.
An equipotential line represent the joining of points of equal
residual head, hence if piezometers were installed on an
equipotential line, the water will rise in all of them up to the
same level
Every water particle on line AB is having a residual head h = h1,
and on CD is having a residual head h = 0, and hence, AB and
CD are equipotential lines.
 Exit Gradient
The seepage water exerts a force
at each point in the direction of
flow and tangential to the
streamlines as shown in figure
above. This force (F) has an
upward component from the point
where the streamlines turns
upward.
This force has the maximum disturbing tendency at the exit end,
because the direction of this force at the exit point is vertically
upward, and hence full force acts as its upward component. For the
soil grain to remain stable, the submerged weight of soil grain
should be more than this upward disturbing force. The disturbing
force at any point is proportional to the gradient of pressure of
water at that point (i.e. dp/dl). This gradient of pressure of water at
the exit end is called the exit gradient. In order that the soil
particles at exit remain stable, the upward pressure at exit should
be safe. In other words, the exit gradient should be safe.
Critical Exit Gradient
This exit gradient is said to be critical, when the upward disturbing
force on the grain is just equal to the submerged weight of the grain
at the exit. When a factor of safety equal to 4 to 5 is used, the exit
gradient can then be taken as safe. In other words, an exit gradient
equal to ¼ to 1/5 of the critical exit gradient is ensured, so as to keep
the structure safe against piping.
Khosla’s Method of independent variables for determination of
pressures and exit gradient for seepage below a weir or a
barrage

In order to know as to how the seepage below the foundation of

a hydraulic structure is taking place, it is necessary to plot the
flow net. In other words, we must solve the Laplacian
equations.
This can be accomplished either by mathematical solution of the
Laplacian equations, or by Electrical analogy method, or by
graphical sketching by adjusting the streamlines and
equipotential lines with respect to the boundary conditions.
These are complicated methods and are time consuming.
Therefore, for designing hydraulic structures such as weirs
or barrage or pervious foundations, Khosla has evolved a
simple, quick and an accurate approach, called Method of
Independent Variables.
In this method, a complex profile like that of a weir is broken
into a number of simple profiles; each of which can be solved
mathematically. Mathematical solutions of flownets for these
simple standard profiles have been presented in the form of
equations given in Figures and curves given in Plate, which
can be used for determining the percentage pressures at the
various key points.

The simple profiles, which are most useful for analysis, are:
(i)A straight horizontal floor of negligible thickness with a
sheet pile line on the u/s end and d/s end.
(ii)A straight horizontal floor depressed below the bed but
without any vertical cut-offs.
(iii)A straight horizontal floor of negligible thickness with a
sheet pile line at some intermediate point.
SEEPAGE THEORIES
The key points are the junctions of the floor and the pole
lines on either side, and the bottom point of the pile line, and
the bottom corners in the case of a depressed floor.
The percentage pressures at these key points for the simple
forms into which the complex profile has been broken is valid
for the complex profile itself, if corrected for

(a)Correction for the mutual interference of piles

(b)Correction for the thickness of floor
(c)Correction for the slope of the floor
(a) Correction for the Mutual interference of Piles
The correction, C, to be applied as percentage of head due to this
effect, is given by

Where,
b′ = The distance between two pile lines.
D = The depth of the pile line, the influence of which has to
be determined on the neighboring pile of depth, d. D is to
be measured below the level at which interference is
desired.
d = The depth of the pile on which the effect is
considered
b = Total floor length
(a) Correction for the Mutual interference of Piles
The correction is positive for the points in the rear of back
water, and subtractive for the points forward in the
direction of flow. This equation does not apply to the effect
of an outer pile on an intermediate pile, if the intermediate
pile is equal to or smaller than the outer pile and is at a
distance less than twice the length of the outer pile.
(a) Correction for the Mutual interference of Piles

Suppose in the above figure, we are considering the influence of

the pile no (2) on pile no (1) for correcting the pressure at C1.
Since the point C1 is in the rear, this correction shall be
positive.
While the correction to be applied to E2 due to pile no (1) shall be
negative, since the point E2 is in the forward direction of flow.
Similarly, the correction at C2 due to pile no (3) is positive and
the correction at E3 due to pile no (2) is negative.
(b) Correction for the thickness of floor
In the standard form profiles, the floor is assumed to have
negligible thickness. Hence, the percentage pressures
calculated by Khosla’s equations or graphs shall pertain to the
top levels of the floor. While the actual junction points E and C
are at the bottom of the floor. Hence, the pressures at the actual
points are calculated by assuming a straight line pressure
variation.

Since the corrected pressure at E1 should be less than the calculated

pressure at E1′, the correction to be applied for the joint E1 shall be
negative. Similarly, the pressure calculated C1′ is less than the
corrected pressure at C1, and hence, the correction to be applied at
point C1 is positive.
 (b) Correction for the thickness of floor

Ct represent correction
(c) Correction for the slope of the floor
A correction is applied for a slopping floor, and is taken as positive for
the downward slopes, and negative for the upward slopes following the
direction of flow. Values of correction of standard slopes such as
1 : 1, 2 : 1, 3 : 1, etc. are tabulated below

**The correction factor given

above is to be multiplied by the
horizontal length of the slope and
divided by the distance between
the two pile lines between which
the sloping floor is located. This
correction is applicable only to the
key points of the pile line fixed at
the start or the end of the slope.
Exit gradient (GE)
It has been determined that for a standard form consisting of a
floor length (b) with a vertical cutoff of depth (d), the exit
gradient at its downstream end is given by
Example: Determine the percentage pressures at various key points
in figure below. Also determine the exit gradient and plot the
hydraulic gradient line for pond level on upstream and no flow on
downstream
(1) For upstream Pile Line No. 1
Total length of the floor, b = 57.0 m
Depth of u/s pile line,
d = 154 – 148 = 6 m
α = b/d = 57/6 = 9.5
1/α = 1/9.5 = 0.105
From curve 11.1a

φC1 = 100 – 29 = 71 %
φD1 = 100 – 20 = 80 %
φE1=100%

Correction required at φC1 !!!

 Corrections for φC1
(i). Correction at C1 for Mutual Interference of Piles (φC1) is
affected by intermediate pile No.2

Since the point C1 is in the rear in the direction of flow, the correction
is (+) ve.
Therefore, Correction due to pile interference on C1 = 1.88 % (+ ve)
(ii). Correction at C1 due to thickness of floor:

=(80%-71%)/(154-148)*(154-153) =1.5%
(iii). Correction due to slope at C1 = 0
(no slope starting or end at C1)

Hence corrected (φC1) = computed φC1 +corrections

= 71%+1.88%+1.5%
= 74.38%
(2) For intermediate Pile Line No. 2
d = 154 – 148 = 6 m
b = 57 m
α = b/d = 57/6 = 9.5
we have b1 in this case b1
= 0.6 + 15.8 = 16.4
b = 57 m
b1/b = 16.4/57 = 0.298 (for φC2)
b2/b=1 – b1/b = 1 – 0.298 = 0.702
Using curves of plate 11.1 (b),
φE2 = 100 – 30 = 70 %
φC2 = 56 %
φD2 = 100 – 37 = 63 %
 ~56 φE2 = 100 – 30 = 70 %
φC2 = 56 %
φD2 = 100 – 37 = 63 %
~37
~30

b1/b b2/b
Corrections for φE2
(i). Correction at E2 for sheet pile lines. Pile No. (1) will affect
the pressure at E2 and since E2 is in the forward direction of
flow, this correction shall be – ve. The amount of this correction
is given as:
(ii). Correction at E2 due to thickness of floor:

=(70%-63%)/(154-148)*(154-153) =1.17%

(iii). Correction due to slope at E2

=0 (no slope starting or end at E2)

Hence corrected (φE2) = computed φE2 +corrections

= 70%-1.88%-1.17%
=66.95%
Corrections for φC2
(i). Correction at C2 due to pile interference. Pressure at C2 is
affected by pile No.(3) and since the point C2 is in the back
water in the direction of flow, this correction is (+) ve. The
amount of this correction is given as:
(ii) Correction at C2 due to floor thickness.

=(63%-56%)/(154-148)*(154-153) =1.17%
(iii) Correction due to slope at C2
Since the point C2 is situated at the start of a slope of 3:1, i.e. an up
slope in the direction of flow; the correction is negative
Correction factor for 3:1 slope from table = 4.5
Horizontal length of the slope = 3 m
Distance between two pile lines between which the sloping floor is
located = 40 m
Actual correction = 4.5 × (3/40) = 0.34 % (- ve)
Hence corrected (φE2) = computed φE2 +corrections
= 56%+2.88%+1.17%-0.34%=59.72%
(3) Downstream Pile Line No. 3
d = 152 – 141.7 = 10.3 m
b = 57 m
1/α = 10.3/57 = 0.181
From curves of Plate 11.1 (a),
we get

φC3 = 0 %
φD3 = 26 %
φE3 = 38 %

Correction required at φE3 !!!

Corrections for φE3
(i). Correction due to piles. The point E3 is affected by pile No. 2,
and since E3 is in the forward direction of flow from pile No. 3, this
correction is negative and its amount is given by
(ii). Correction due to floor thickness

=(38%-26%)/(152-141.7)*(1.3) =0.74%=1.51

(iii). Correction due to slope at E3

=0 (no slope starting or end at E3)

Hence corrected (φE3) = computed φE3 +corrections

= 38%-1.02% – 0.76% 1.51%
=36.22 % 35.47%
The corrected pressure coefficients at various key
points are tabulated below in Table below

35.47%
Exit Gradient
Let the water be headed up to pond level, i.e. on RL 158 m on
the upstream side with no flow downstream
The maximum seepage head, H = 158 – 152 = 6 m
The depth of d/s cur-off, d = 152 – 141.7 = 10.3 m
Total floor length, b = 57 m
α = b/d = 57/10.3 = 5.53
SEEPAGE THEORIES
Exit Gradient