Seepage analysis based on the unified unsaturated soil theory

The normal use of the finite element method in the analysis of earth and rock-fill darns involves troublesome modifications of the finite element mesh. In the present paper it is pointed out that in problems of steady seepage it is not necessary to determine in the iteration process the entire free surface, but only the elevation of the release point. It is shown by several examples that the proposed method can simplify the seepage analysis to a certain degree, and also give satisfactory results.