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Abstract A Finite element study of seepage flow under floor of hydraulic structure floor with cracks and cracked sheet piles was conducted using four-node quadrilateral isoparametric element. An experimental work was performed using Sand Model Tank. A dimensional analysis was done to obtain the dimensionless parameters affecting the seepage flow characteristics. Single sheet pile, double sheet piles, single crack and double cracks were studied. The effect of the depth of impermeable layer, relative depths of sheet pile(s), the position of crack(s) in sheet pile(s) and in the floor were presented using dimensionless graphs. Application of the seepage model, using finite element method, was introduced on the floor of Esna Barrages using four-node quadrilateral isoparametric element. The effect of possible cracks in the floor and in sheet piles were studied and the factor of safety in the uplift pressures and exit gradients were obtained. It was found that the maximum reduction in the relative uplift pressure occurred due to an increase in the relative depth of crack which ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 measured from floor. The presence of sheet pile wall causes a significant reduction in the relative uplift pressures and the presence of cracks in the sheet pile increased the relative uplift pressure under the floor part downstream the sheet pile. The increase in the relative crack depth in the sheet pile measured from the floor caused an increase in the relative uplift pressures under the floor upstream the sheet pile. But for the floor downstream the sheet pile, the relative uplift pressures was decreased for the increase in the relative depth of crack. |