Three-dimensional stochastic simulation was performed to investigate the complexity of the seepage field of an embankment. Three-dimensional anisotropic heterogeneous steady state random seepage finite element model was developed. The material input data were derived from a statistical analysis of strata soil characteristics and geological columns. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to validate the hypothesis that the Gaussian probability distribution is applicable to the random permeability tensors. A stochastic boundary condition, the random variation of upstream and downstream water level, was taken into account in the three-dimensional finite element modelling. Furthermore, the functions of sheet-pile breakwater and catchwater were also incorporated as turbulent sources. This case, together with the variability of soil permeability, has been analyzed to investigate their influence on the hydraulic potential distributed and the random evolution of stochastic seepage field. Results from stochastic analyses have also been compared against those of deterministic analyses. The insights gained in this study suggest it is necessary, feasible, and practical to employ stochastic studies in seepage field problems. The method provides a more comprehensive stochastic algorithm than conventional ones to characterize and analyze three-dimensional random seepage field problems.
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