Study on Seepage Control Schemes and Their Effects in Typical Embankment Sections of the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River

Abstract Piping is one of the most common emergencies in the Yangtze River embankment defense system and poses a significant threat to the safety of the embankment. Based on historical data and field investigations, this study takes the piping in the Changsun Embankment section of the Huangzhou section of the Yangtze River as an example. Utilizing a three‐dimensional seepage finite element model for calculation, this study compares and analyzes the impact of the failure and normal functioning of relief wells on the seepage field, conducting an effectiveness study of relief well measures. At the same time, under the condition of no anti‐seepage system, a comparative analysis of the vertical permeability gradient under different relief well spacing and well mouth elevation is carried out, leading to the following conclusions: (1) The drainage and decompression effect of the relief well is greatly influenced by the spacing between relief wells; as the spacing increases, the decompression effect gradually decreases; (2) The lower the well mouth elevation of the relief well, the better the effect. An optimal layout plan for relief wells is proposed according to the characteristics of the emergency, which can provide a reference for the layout of relief wells in similar geological strata with piping emergencies.