FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE NAME
COURSE CODE
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEMESTER

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : LAB 5 – PERMEABILITY TEST

DATE OF EXPERIMENT :
NAME :
UiTM NO :
CLASS GROUP :
LECTURER :
LEVEL OF OPENESS : 2

MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
METHODOLOGY 1 2 3 4 5
RESULTS&ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5
DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5
CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5
ORGANIZATION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECG428

LEVEL OF OPENNESS 2

CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 66

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES TEST:

DETERMINATION OF PERMEABILITY FOR SOILS

Introduction

Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways &
means are guided and given to the students. However, the answers to the
assignment are left to the students to solve using the group creativity and
innovativeness. The activity is hope to slowly introduced and inculcate
independent learning amongst students and prepare them for a much harder
task of open-ended laboratory activities.

A material is said to be permeable if it contains continuous voids. Permeability is

a property of permeable material that permits flow of liquids through the voids.
The flow of liquid through soil either by laminar or turbulent depending on
permeability of soil and the head causing flow.

Darcy (1856) demonstrated experimentally that for laminar flow conditions in a

saturated soil, the rate of flow or discharge per unit time is proportional to the
hydraulic gradient.

q = kiA
PREAMBLE
where: q = discharge per unit time
k = Darcy’s coefficient of permeability
i = hydraulic gradient
A = total cross-sectional area of soil mass, perpendicular
to the direction of flow.

The coefficient of permeability can be determined using two (2) types of

apparatus, namely:

1. Constant head permeameter apparatus for coarse grained soil.

2. Falling head permeameter apparatus for fine grained soils.

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Objectives
To determine the coefficient of permeability of coarse grained and fine-grained
soils.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the laboratory activities, students should be able to:
1. To determine the permeability of coarse grained and fine-grained soils.
2. Work in a group to produce the relevant technical report.

Permeability is defined as the capacity of a soil to allow water to pass through

and the coefficient of permeability is the flow velocity produced by a hydraulic
gradient of unity. The coefficient of permeability (or simply permeability) of soils
can be determined in the laboratory using permeameter under constant head or
variable head. Under constant head if Q is total quantity of flow (cm3) in time
interval, t (sec) through cross sectional area of specimen, A (cm2) and L (cm) is
PROBLEM STATEMENT length of specimen, H (cm) height of water in the tube, h (cm) is the head loss
measurement.

The falling head test is used to determine the coefficient of permeability of fine-
grained soils such as silts and clays. For these types of soil, the rate of water
flowing through is too small such that it is unable to measure the flow of liquid
through fine grained soils using constant head permeameter.

Permeability of soil by constant head method

Apparatus:
Permeameter mould, compacting equipment, drainage bade, drainage cap,
constant head tank, graduated glass cylinder, stop watch, meter scale.

Procedures:
Undisturbed soil specimen
1. Recorded the sample number, bore hole number, and depth of sample
collection.
2. The sampling tube's protective cover (paraffin wax) was removed.
3. Placed the sampling tube in the sample extraction frame and pushed the
plunger to obtain a cylindrical shape sample with a diameter of 35 mm
WAYS & MEANS
and a height equal to the height of the mould.
4. To reach the drainage base, the specimen must be positioned in the
centre of the porous disc.
5. To prevent leaking from the sidewalls, the angular space between the soil
specimen and the mould should be filled with an impermeable material
such as cement slurry or wax.
6. Place the drainage cap on top of the mould.
7. The specimen is now ready for testing.

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Disturbed soil sample

1. A 2.5 kg sample of completely mixed air dried or oven dried material must
be taken.
2. The moisture content of the 2.5 kg sample must be assessed at the
outset. Following that, the soil must be placed in an airtight container.
3. Add the necessary amount of water to achieve the appropriate moisture
content.
4. After fully mixing the soil, weigh the empty permeameter mould.
5. Clamp it between the compaction base plate and extension collar after
lightly greasing the inside.
6. The assembly was placed on a firm platform, and the sample was filled
and crushed.
7. The collar and extra soil are removed when a compaction is completed.
8. With the use of a sample, determine the weight of the mould.
9. The sample was placed in the permeameter, with the drainage base and
cap having appropriately saturated discs.
Test procedure (Constant head test)
1. The constant head reservoir must be linked to the specimen through the
top inlet.
2. The bottom outlet was opened, and a continuous flow of water was
established.
3. It is possible to collect the amount of flow for a given time span.
4. Repeat for a total of three times at the same interval.

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Permeability of soil by falling head method

Apparatus:
Permeameter with its accessories, standard soil specimen, balance to weigh up
to 1 gm, de-aired water, I.S sieves 4.75 mm and 2 mm, mixing pan, stop watch,
measuring jar, meter scale, thermometer, container for water, trimming knife.

Procedures:
Undisturbed soil specimen
1. Recorded the sample number, bore hole number, and depth of sample
collection.
2. The sampling tube's protective cover (paraffin wax) was removed.
3. Inserted the sampling tube into the sample extract and pushed the
plunger to obtain a cylindrical specimen with a diameter of 85 mm and a
height equal to that of the mould.
4. This specimen was centred on the base plate's drainage disc.
5. To prevent side leakage of the specimen, the annular gap between the
mould and the specimen was filled with an impervious material such as
cement slurry.
6. The porous disc was protected when cement slurry is poured.
7. Use a tiny tamper to compact the slurry, and place the drainage cover
over the top of the mould.
8. The specimen is now ready for testing.

Disturbed soil sample by preparation of dynamically

1. To obtain O.M.C., take 800 to 1000 grams of representative soil and mix
it with water. For 24 hours, the mixture was kept in an airtight container.
2. Assemble the dynamic compaction permeameter. Grease the inside of
the mould and place it on the dynamic compaction base upside down. I
weighed the assembly to the nearest gramme (w). Place the 3 cm collar
on the opposite end.
3. Using a 2.5 kg dynamic tool, compact the wet dirt in two layers with 15
blows to each layer. The collar was taken off and the surplus was trimmed
away. Weighed the dirt and the mould assembly (W2).
4. Fix the perforated base plate to the top of the soil specimen with filter
paper or fine worn mesh.
5. Remove the compaction plate by turning the unit upside down. Place the
top perforated plate on top of the soil specimen and insert the sealing
gasket. Also, secure the top cap.
6. The specimen is now ready for testing.

Test procedure (Falling head test)

1. Prepare the soil sample according to the instructions.
2. Water that has been saturated and de-aired is ideal.
3. Fill the bottom tank with water after assembling the permeameter.
4. The mold's inlet nozzle is linked to the stand pipe. Allow a small amount
of water to flow until a constant flow is achieved.
5. Recorded the time interval (t) for a head fall in the stand pipe (h).
6. Determine ‘t' for the same head by repeating step 5 three times.
7. For the stand pipe, find ‘a' by collecting ‘q.' Find ‘a' from q/h=a and weigh
it to 1 gram.

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Data of the test:

Length of specimen (L) = 127 mm

Area of specimen (A) = 7,854 mm2
RESULTS Volume of specimen (V) = 997,458 mm3
Area of stand pipe (a) = 113 mm2
Specific gravity of soil (G)= 2.65
Temperature of water = 30°C

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

i) Constant Head

Time, t Head, h Quantity, Q Q=Q/t kT

(seconds) (mm) (mm3) (mm3/s) (mm/s)
1 150 300 32,400 216 0.0116
2 300 300 66,000 220 0.0119
3 450 300 96,300 214 0.0115

ii) Falling head

Initial head, h1 Final head, h2 Time, t Log10 kT (mm/s)

(mm) (mm) (seconds) (h1/h2)
1 1,200 550 122 0.3388 1.0340 x
10⁻⁴
2 1,200 400 173 0.4771 1.0209 x
10⁻⁴
3 1,200 250 244 0.6812 1.0395 x
10⁻⁴

iii) Dry density, void ratio and degree of saturation

Mass of saturated soil, M = 2,087g

Mass of moisture cup = 18.3 g
Mass of cup with wet soil = 37.09g
Mass of cup with dry soil = 34.10g
Water content = 18.92%

𝑀𝑀𝑠𝑠
𝜌𝜌𝑑𝑑 =
𝑉𝑉

34.10𝑔𝑔−18.30𝑔𝑔
=
997.458𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐3
=0.0158g/𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐3

𝐺𝐺𝜌𝜌𝑊𝑊
𝑒𝑒 = -1
𝜌𝜌𝑑𝑑

2.65(1𝑔𝑔/𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐3 )
=
0.0158𝑔𝑔/𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐3
=166.72

𝜔𝜔𝜔𝜔
𝑆𝑆𝑇𝑇 =
𝑒𝑒

0.1892(2.65)
=
166.72
=3.01× 10−3

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

DATA ANALISIS

In conclusion, using the head constant and falling head permeameter apparatus,
the coefficient of permeability of coarse and fine-grained soils was measured. We
get a value of 1.17 x 10(-5) m/s for the k (permeability). This sample has good
drainage qualities and a medium permeability. This is due to the high or moderate
density of the gravel, which allows water to move through the soil with minimal
resistance. It can easily drain water but can't hold much of it. Fissured and
weathered clays are the most common types of soil, and they are ideal for
CONCLUSION
drainage systems.

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

DISCUSSION
A test device with a reservoir on top for de-aired water and a reservoir at the
bottom for water that has permeated into the soil sample is used in the constant
head permeability test. Because the samples are large-grained, the hydraulic
conductivity is relatively faster. The coefficient of permeability can be computed
using the height and cross-sectional area of the soil sample, as well as pressure
measurements and volume of penetrated water during the chosen time interval.
Repeat the test three or more times to obtain accurate results and get the
average coefficient. The permeability coefficient can be estimated when the
water level in the standpipe reaches a predefined level. The algorithm takes into
account the sample size, the cross-sectional area of the standpipe, and the time
DISCUSSION AND it took to adjust the water level.
RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION
1. The permeability coefficient is used to evaluate the drainage characteristics of
soil and to forecast the rate of settlement based on the soil bed.
2. There should be no volume change in the soil during the test, and no
compressible air should be present in the voids of the soil, indicating that the
soil is totally saturated. The flow should be laminar and at a constant rate.

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