CE 544 - Seepage and Slope Stability Analysis

Winter Semester 2025

Brigham Young University - Dept. of Civil and Construction Engineering

Norm Jones

430Q Engineering Building

njones@byu.edu

801-422-7569 (office)

Lectures: 234CB 9:30 - 10:45 am T-Th


Course Objectives

As the name implies, we will cover two main topics: seepage and slope stability. The two topics are related since seepage and slope stability analyses are often done in tandem.

Seepage analysis can take many forms, but the type of analysis we will be doing in this class is the analysis of seepage through vertical profiles, i.e., vertical cross-sections through dams, levees, embankments, etc. We will look at analytical solutions, graphical solutions (flow nets), and numerical solutions (both finite difference and finite element analysis). We will also look at the uses wells for construction dewatering.

Slope stability analysis is the process of analyzing slopes and embankments to determine the factor of safety against slope failure. It is routinely performed on dams, levees, excavations (cuts for highways, etc.), mine tailings, and embankments. Most stability analyses are performed with the aid of a specialized computer program, but we will look at simple cases that can be solved with charts, equations, or spreadsheets.


E-Mail Links

The following links are here for the convenience of the instructor and students in CE En 544 at BYU. Any use of these email addresses for any purpose other than dealing with CE En 544 is strictly prohibited.


Student Accounts

Each of you has a student account for this class.  You can log on to your student account to edit your e-mail address and the code that is used to display your homework and exam scores.

Student Account Logon Page

The password to logon to your account was mailed to you at the beginning of the semester. Contact Dr. Jones if you have forgotten your password.


Teaching Assistant

Travis McStraw
Office: 375 CB
E-mail: travis.mcstraw@yahoo.com

Travis will be available to help with homework every Tuesday/Thursday from 8:30-9:30am in room 234 (one hour prior to class)


Text

Required: Soil Strength and Slope Stability, 2nd Edition, Duncan, Wright, and Brandon

We will use text primarily during the second part of the semester.

Optional: Construction Dewatering and Groundwater Control, Powers, Et al.

Good reference on dewatering issues

Optional: Seepage, Drainage, and Flow Nets, Cedergren.

Good, but dated. Last edition published in 1997.


Page last edited: 03/19/2024