Water and Water Flow in Soil

Water changes the loads on a wall and the soil it retains. This chapter covers water and water flow in soil, including groundwater flow theory, flow nets, seepage around the wall, and hydrostatic and seepage forces.

It explains how water level differences create loads, how to find the net pressure on the wall, and how seepage can reduce stability or cause piping at the toe of a wall.

Water problems are among the most common causes of wall distress, and this chapter helps designers anticipate them and choose drains, cutoffs, and embedment depths accordingly.