In this study, a numerical simulation is applied to investigate the effective factors on the seepage from the earthen channels. To authenticate the information at hand, some of the earthen channels in the Zayandeh-Rud irrigation network in Iran and Gediz watershed in Turkey were studied. 246 numerical models, including different sections of trapezoidal, rectangular and triangular earthen channels, were performed using the finite elements method (FEM). The results showed that, for a numerical simulation, a width of 15 times wider than the top width of the water surface in the channel would be required for the modelling of the left and right lateral boundaries. The comparison of the seepage with empirical relationships showed that the empirical relationships have too much error in the seepage estimation, however, Moritz's relation with the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.373 was better than the others. The linear and nonlinear multivariate regression relationships provide a suitable match for the seepage discharge estimation. The wetted perimeter has been distinguished as an effective parameter in the seepage from the channels, yet the channels side slope has a low impact on the seepage.
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