Assessing Seepage Behavior and Hydraulic Gradient Conditions in the Lam Phra Phloeng Earth Fill Dam, Thailand

Abstract

This study evaluates seepage behavior and hydraulic gradient conditions at the Lam Phra Phloeng Earthfill Dam in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, by integrating long-term instrumentation records, updated geotechnical data, and deterministic numerical modeling. Piezometer and observation-well data collected between 2007 and 2023 were screened for reliability, revealing that several sensors exhibited abnormal or non-responsive behavior, limiting direct interpretation of phreatic surface variations in critical zones. Reliable datasets were incorporated into SEEP/W seepage simulations using representative dam cross-sections and soil parameters derived from recent drilling and laboratory testing. The results indicate that under normal reservoir operation, the phreatic surface remains within the core–drainage system and hydraulic gradients are well below estimated critical thresholds for the clayey foundation. Elevated reservoir levels lead to increased pore-water pressures and higher hydraulic gradients, particularly near the downstream zones and the deep central section of the dam. Rapid drawdown produces the most unfavorable hydraulic condition, generating steep transient pore-pressure gradients that approach critical values and reduce hydraulic safety margins. Although no immediate evidence of piping or uncontrolled seepage was identified, malfunctioning instrumentation creates monitoring blind spots that increase uncertainty in real-time seepage assessment. This study demonstrates that hydraulic gradient-based interpretation of deterministic seepage modeling provides a practical screening tool for dam safety evaluation under data-limited conditions. The findings emphasize the importance of enhanced monitoring redundancy and conservative operational control to support risk-informed management of aging earthfill dams under increasing hydrological variability.