The effect of stochastic soil permeability on confined seepage beneath
water retaining structures has been studied. Random field concepts fo
r the generation of soil permeability properties with a fixed mean, st
andard deviation and spatial correlation structure have been combined
with finite element methods to perform Monte Carlo simulations of the
seepage problem. Analyses have been performed for a dam with two cut-o
ff walls. The results of parametric studies to gauge the effect of the
standard deviation and correlation structure of the permeability on t
he output statistics relating to seepage quantities, exit gradients an
d uplift pressures are presented. In all cases, comparison is made wit
h results that would be achieved on a deterministic basis. Flow rates
and other quantities are shown to be affected significantly by the sta
ndard deviation and the correlation structure of soil permeability.