Engineering Geology

Engineering Geology

Assessment of water seepage risk in the Sarploe Zahab water transfer tunnel (T4) using analytical, empirical, and numerical methods

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Hossein Jowkar
Mashalah khamehchiyan
Mohammad Salehi
Ehsan Mahmoudian Barzi
Abstract
One of the major challenges in tunnel engineering is the estimation and prediction of water inflow into tunnels. Although numerous methods have been proposed to evaluate hydraulic behavior and to estimate the permeability of soil and rock masses depending on their geological structures, these methods still lack sufficient accuracy and certainty. Therefore, in this study, the amount of water seepage into different sections of the Sarploe Zahab water transfer tunnel (T4), as part of the Sirvan river water transfer project to the tropical regions of Kermanshah and Ilam provinces, was evaluated using analytical (Goodman, Karlsrud, and El Tani), empirical (SGR and TIC), and numerical (SEEP/W) methods. The tunnel has a total length of 3.4 km, a diameter of 8.6 m, and inlet and outlet elevations of 552.51 m and 549.50 m above sea level, respectively. The results indicate that the water inflow into different tunnel sections varies from
Keywords
Sarploe Zahab
Sarab Garm
Seepage
SEEP/W
Tunnel T4
Engineering Geology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 06 August 2026