Experimental modelling vs. numerical simulation in geotechnical training

Seepage or groundwater flow is an essential topic in the geotechnical training of civil engineering students. The appropriate understanding and control of seepage phenomena is fundamental for the safe design of water retaining works such as embankment dams. Catastrophic failure of such massive structures, due to internal erosion processes caused by deficient control of seepage, has caused many casualties and extensive damage. Experimental models for groundwater flow in small scale dams have proved to be an effective learning tool. Furthermore in an instructional setting numerical simulation is a powerful complement which has the ability to illustrate several important physical aspects of seepage in dams. The combined use of these two approaches is illustrated in this paper.