Lecture 10: Permeability 1

At the end of this lecture, students will be able explain

different procedures in permeability testing methods, and
to calculate and analyze the permeability of soils.
Students will be able to explain how the results affect the
decision of an engineer during construction of civil
engineering structures.
Outline

1. Introduction
2. Flow of water in soil
3. Lab Tests for Coefficient of Permeability
4. Field Tests for Coefficient of Permeability
5. Empirical Relationship for Coefficient of
Permeability
6. Permeability in Stratified Soils
7. Capillary rise in soils
Introduction
Effects of Water to Soils
Cohesive soil tends to shrink when dry and swell
when wet
Clay soils expanding greatly when saturated
Fine-grained soils weakened at high water content
Water Movement Consideration in Civil Engineering
Highway sub-drainage
Wells as source of water supply
Capillary and frost action
Seepage flow analysis
Underground construction
Water Flow in Soil

Water flows through soil = permeability or hydraulic conductivity, (k)

Larger soil void greater permeability
Flow of water in soil between two points occurs as a result of pressure (or
hydraulic head, (h)) with the direction of flow from the higher to lower
pressure
Velocity of flow (v), varies directly with the magnitude of the hydraulic head
difference (h) , and soil permeability (k).
Flow of Water in Soil
Study of water flow in soils (Figure 1) by
Darcy found that:
Tube B
q hA / L ------ (1)
Tube A Where;
q = flow rate (volume/time)
h h = hydraulic head difference (between
Tube A and B)
A = Soil sample cross-sectional area
L = Length of soil Sample (Tube A to B)

SOIL FILTER If a constant proportionality, k is

L supplied, the equation become;
q = khA / L ------- (2)
Where,
Figure 1: Darcys Experiment k = permeability (or hydraulic conductivity)
h/L = hydraulic gradient, also denoted i
q = kiA ----------- (3)
Flow of Water in Soil
If the velocity, v needs to be calculated;
From
q = kiA ----------- (3)
q = vA ------------ (4)
And v = ki ------------- (5)
The v in Eq. (4) and (5) above are lab value. To
convert to site (actual) value;
v (actual) = v/n ----------- (6) or
v (actual)= v(1+e)/e ---- (7)
Where, n = porosity = e/(1+e),
Example 1 (Page 115)
The water flows through the
sand filter as shown in
Tube B Figure. The cross-sectional
Tube A
area and the length of the
soil mass are 0.250 m2 and
h 2.00 m, respectively. The
hydraulic gradient
difference is 0.160 m and
the coefficient of
permeability is 6.90 x 10-4
m/s.
L

Find the flow rate of the

water through the soil.
Answer 1
Answer:
Given k = 6.90 x 10-4 m/s.
A = 0.250 m2
L = 2.00 m
h = 0.160 m
Hence;
q = kiA
= k (h/L) A
= (6.90 x 10-4 ) (0.160/2.00) (0.250)
= 1.38 x 10-5 m3/s
Constant Head Permeability Test
Lab test to determine the permeability of
coarse-grained soil
Procedure:
1. Allow water to move through the soil
specimen under a stable head condition
h
2. Measure the volume of water discharge
(Q) over time (t), length of the specimen,
(L), cross-sectional area of the specimen
(A), and head difference (h).
Calculation:
Q = Avt
Discharge = Akit (since v = ki)
volume (Q)
in time (t) = Ak(h/L)t (since i = h/L)
Constant Head Permeameter Rearrange to get;
Permeability, k = QL/Ath (at 200C)
Falling Head Permeability Test
Lab test to determine the permeability of
fine (and sometime coarse) -grained soil
Procedure:
Allow water to move through the soil
specimen under a falling head
condition
Measure the time required (t) for
certain quantity of water (Q) to pass
through the soil specimen (from h1 to
h2).
If the burette cross-sectional area = a,
the specimen area = A, length of the
specimen= L.
Calculation:
Flow of water into the specimen , q(in) = -a(dh/dt)
Flow of water out of the specimen, q(out) = kA(h/L)
Equating; q(in) = q(out)
Solve the equation (pg 118) to get;
Permeability, k = (aL/At) ln (h1/h2)
Or Permeability, k = (2.3aL/At)log (h1/h2)
(Both at 200C)
Temperature Correction
Field Test for Coefficient of Permeability
Permeability in a lab may not
be truly indicative of the in-
situ permeability, thus field
tests are performed on
undisturbed soil.
Unchanged parameters in
field test compared to lab
test: Soil stratification,
overburden stress, location
of the GWT
Several field test methods:
1. Pumping borehole test
(confined and
unconfined)
2. Tracer test
Field Test : Unconfined Aquifer
Procedure:
Constant discharge of water (q)
r2 is pumped out of the test well,
q
when the equilibrium level is
r1
reached, the piezometric levels
(h1 and h2) at observation wells
(radius r1 and r2) are located.

Permeability: (Derivation at pg 122)

h2
h1 k = q ln (r2/r1)
Unconfined
Aquifer
(h22 h12)
Field Test: Confined Aquifer
Procedure:
q r2
Constant discharge of water
r1 (q) is pumped out of the test
well, when the equilibrium
level is reached, the
piezometric levels (h1 and
h2) at observation wells
(radius r1 and r2) are
located.
h2
h1
Permeability: (Derivation at
pg 122)

Confined
Aquifer H k = q ln (r2/r1)
2H(h2 h1)
Typical Values of k (saturated)
Hydraulic Conductivity k
Soil Description
(cm/s) (ft/s)
Clean gravel 1 - 100 3x10-2 - 3
Sand-gravel mixtures 10-2 - 10 3x10-4 - 0.3
Clean coarse sand 10-2 - 1 3x10-4 - 3x10-2
Fine sand 10-3 - 10-1 3x10-5 - 3x10-3
Silty sand 10-3 - 10-2 3x10-5 - 3x10-4
Clayey sand 10-4 - 10-2 3x10-6 - 3x10-4
Silt 10-8 - 10-3 3x10-10 - 3x10-5
Clay 10-10 - 10-6 3x10-12 - 3x10-8
Classification of Soils (Terzaghi, 1996)

Degree of Permeability Value of k (m/s)

High Over 10-3
Medium 10-3 to 10-5
Low 10-5 to 10-7
Very Low 10-7 to 10-9
Practically impermeable Less than 10-9
Empirical Relationship of k
The value of k can be calculated empirically using
result from particle size distribution (sieve analysis)
since permeability is related to pore area and pore
area is related to grain size..
As proposed by Hazen (Terzaghi & Peck 1967):
k = C1(D10)2
Where C1 = factor between 100-150 cm/s and D10 = Effective grain
size (diameter at 10% passing on distribution curve in cm)
As proposed by Sherard et al (1984):
k = 0.35 (D15)2
Where D15 = Grain diameter at 15% passing on distribution
curve (Note: k im cm/s while D15 in mm)
Permeability in Stratified Soils
In the preceding discussion,
soil was assumed
homogenous (1 type), with ky
same value of permeability,
k throughout.
In reality, natural soil
deposits are often non-
homogenous (stratified),
and the value of k, varies. kx
The general procedure is to
find the average value of k
equivalent (keq) at horizontal
(x) and vertical (y)
directions.
ky (Flow Perpendicular to the Layers)

ky To determine the k equivalent at

vertical direction, ky:

ky

ky
3 layers of soil;
Thickness: H1, H2, H3 (m or cm)
Permeability: k1, k2, k3 (m/s or cm/c) Note: Formula derivation at
page 127
kx (Flow Parallel to the Layers)
To determine the k equivalent at
horizontal direction, kx:

kx
kx

kx
3 layers of soil;
Thickness: H1, H2, H3 (m or cm) Note: Formula derivation at
page 127
Permeability: k1, k2, k3 (m/s or cm/c)
Capillary Rise
In equilibrium; Downward
forces = Upward force;
r2h = 2rT
Solve to get (page 130);
h = 4T/d ---- (1) at
pure water, clean glass
h = 0.03/d ---(2) at
Capillary refers to the rise of water in a 200C, T = 0.0728 N/m
small-diameter tube inserted into the and = 9790 N/m3, h in
water caused by water cohesion and m, d in mm.
adhesion to the tube wall.
Downward forces = weight of water
(r2h) and Upward forces = surface Where h = height of rise,
film that hold the water (2rT) T = surface tension, r =
radius, d = diameter, =
unit weight of water.
Capillary Rise
Why h needs to be
determined?:
To estimate the water rises
from saturated soil below
the GWT into the dry soil or
partially saturated above
GWT.

Another method by Peck

(1974):
h = C/eD10 --- (3)
e = void ratio, C = empirical
coefficient
Conclusion
The flow of water through soils is governed by
Darcys law, which states that the average flow
velocity is proportional to the hydraulic gradient.
The proportionality of the coefficient in Darcys
Law is called hydraulic conductivity, k.
The value of k is influenced by the void ratio, pore
size, particle size distribution, the homoogeneity
of the soil mass, the properties of the pore fluid,
and the amount of the undissolved gas in the pore
fluid.
Homogenous clays are practically impervious
while sands and gravels are pervious.
Question 1
During a test using a constant head permeameter at room temperature
17oC, the following data were collected.

Soil Quantity Hydraulic Permeability Permeability

Sample collected in 2 Different in at 170 C at 200 C
minutes (ml) manometer level,
h (mm) mm/s mm/s
A 541 76 (use formula) (use table)
B 503 72
C 509 68
D 474 65
Average

1. If the diameter and length of the soil sample is 100 mm and 150 mm
respectively, determine the average permeability of the four samples.
2. What is the permeability of the soils at standard temperature (200 C)?
Temperature Correction
Answer 2

Soil Quantity Hydraulic Different Permeability Permeability

Sample collected in 2 in manometer at 170 C at 200 C
minutes (ml) level, h (mm)
mm/s mm/s
A 541 76 1.13 1.22
B 503 72 1.11 1.20
C 509 68 1.19 1.28
D 474 65 1.16 1.25
Average 1.15 1.24
Question 2
A layered of soil is shown in Table 1 below.
Layer Thickness (m) Permeability, k
(cm/s)
1 1.5 10-4
2 3 3.2 x 10-2
3 2 4.1 x 10-5

i. Determine the Ky or Kvertical(equivalent)

ii. Determine the Kx or Khorizontal(equivalent)
iii. Estimate the ratio of the equivalent hydraulic
conductivity
Answer 3

i. 148.05 x 10-4 cm/s

ii. 1.018 x 10-4 cm/s
iii. 145.4
Question 3
q r2
A permeability pumping test was
r1
carried on confined aquifer using
test and observation wells
shown in figure.

Find k in m/s if given

h2
q = 37.4 m3 /hr h1
r1 = 15.0 m
r2 = 50 m
H = 11.7 m
h1 = 15.45 m H
h2 = 16.18 m

Answer: 2.33 x 10-4 m/s