SEEPAGE FLOW-STABILITY ANALYSIS OF THE RIVERBANK OF SAIGON RIVER DUE TO RIVER WATER LEVEL FLUCTUATION

Abstract

The Saigon River, which flows through the center of Ho Chi Minh City, is of critical importance
for the development of the city as forms as the main water supply and drainage channel for the city. In recent
years, riverbank erosion and failures have become more frequent along the Saigon River, causing flooding and
damage to infrastructures near the river. A field investigation and numerical study has been undertaken by our
research group to identify factors affecting the riverbank failure. In this paper, field investigation results obtained
from multiple investigation points on the Saigon River are presented, followed by a comprehensive coupled
finite element analysis of riverbank stability when subjected to river water level fluctuations. The river water
level fluctuation has been identified as one of the main factors affecting the riverbank failure, i.e. removal of the
balancing hydraulic forces acting on the riverbank during water drawdown.