Experimental Study of Groundwater Flow

This paper describes an experimental setup for groundwater flow studies with small scale models, developed for the Soil Mechanics course offered to Civil Engineering Master students at FEUP. Relevant quantities, such as the piezometric head and total discharge, can be measured, while flow lines may be visualized. It is also possible to recreate hydraulically induced instability phenomena, namely illustrating the disastrous effects caused on an embankment dam by overtopping. The experimental studies are replicated by a finite element model and both are available for use on line during lectures.