Faculty Member at the College of Engineering Publishes Scientific Research in a Prestigious International Journal

In a scientific achievement added to the College of Engineering, Ms. Afnan Salah Amin, a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering, published a research paper titled:

“Influence of Using Geosynthetic Clay Liners on Seepage Characteristics Through an Earth Dam”

The study was published in the Civil Engineering Journal, which is indexed in Scopus and Clarivate databases and ranked within the first quartile (Q1).

The research evaluated the impact of using Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCL) on reducing water seepage and flow lines within earth dams, based on laboratory experiments conducted using a Permeability Tank.

The results demonstrated that applying the GCL liner across the entire upstream side of the dam contributes to reducing the discharge rate by up to 99.97%, reflecting high efficiency in limiting seepage phenomena. Furthermore, the study derived a precise empirical equation to estimate discharge in dams reinforced with this technology, achieving a coefficient of determination (R² = 96.4%).

The findings also indicated that adopting a GCL liner with an uncovered height of (6 cm) alongside a (40 cm) long drainage system represents an effective design solution to mitigate the risks of dam failure caused by internal erosion (piping).

This scientific publication reflects the advanced research level of the College of Engineering faculty and their active contributions to developing sustainable engineering solutions and addressing challenges related to hydraulic infrastructure.