Seepage visualization and detection of diaphragm wall leakage with electrical potential method: an experimental investigation

Abstract Attributed to the opacity of soil and rock mass, seepage visualization is a thorny problem in model test around diaphragm wall leakage, which has played an increasingly significant role deep excavation engineering recently. Enlightened by geoelectrical field response method, electrical potential method was proposed this study. By means experiment, applicability verified approaches for evaluating characteristics were discussed. Based on analyses, several conclusions could be drawn: (i) based circuit established connecting power supplier, ground monitoring electrodes voltmeters. When passes through certain electrode, increase voltage can observed so that flow visualized. (ii) The effectiveness validated excellent agreement between photos practical nephograms depicted basis voltages measured electrodes. (iii) time history curve S-shaped composed small ladder rising stage, sharp increasing stage convergence stage. velocity, inhomogeneity leakage point location evaluated cost two major rise beginning points, process maximum voltage, respectively. provide valuable support other experiments.