CHAPTER 5

1) Compute the value of the hydraulic radius for a circular pipe flowing half-full.


2) Calculate the value for the hydraulic radius for flow in an open channel where the bottom of
the channel is 3 ft wide, the side slopes are 1 on 1, and the depth of flow is 2 ft.


3) A thick fluid having a high viscosity and a thin fluid having a low viscosity are to be passed
through a permeable material. Indicate the condition for which the resulting coefficient of
permeability will be greatest and briefly explain why. For which condition is the quantity of flow
through the material expected to be greatest?

4) The coefficient of permeability is generally greater for coarse soils than for fine-grained soils.
What effect does particle size have on permeability?
The coefficient of permeability is generally greater for coarse soils than for fine-
grained soils. A coarse-grained soil would have a higher void ratio than a dense soil, and
therefore would permit greater flow. This phenomenon of higher permeability in coarse-
grained soil can be explained, at least in part, by the manner in w/c water flows through a
conduit. The fluid flow measured at increments of distance extending between the walls
of the conduit indicates that the velocity varies from a very low value adjacent to the wall
of the conduit. This variation in flow is caused by the friction developed at the conduit
wall and the viscous friction developed in the moving fluid. For fine-grained soil, where
the void spaces are very small, all lines of flow are physically close to the wall of
conduit, and therefore only low-velocity flows occur.

5) What effect does the presence of adsorbed water in clay have on the coefficient of permeability
for this type of soil?

6) In the flow of water through soil, what are the conditions necessary in order for Darcys law to
apply?
In the flow of water through soil, there four basic conditions necessary in order for
Darcys law to apply. (1) the steady-state laminar flow, (2) 100% saturation (no
compressible air present), (3) flow fulfilling continuity conditions, and (4) no volume
changes (compression or swelling) during or as a result of flow. The validity of Darcys
flow may be analyzed with respect to particle size, velocity, and hydraulic gradient.

7) (a) Estimate the coefficient of permeability for a uniform sand where a sieve analysis indicates
that the

size is 0.15 mm.

(b) The particle-size distribution curve for a sand indicates the

size is 0.19 mm. If the sand

deposit is in the dense or compact state, estimate the coefficient of permeability.

8) Why might the permeability in fine-grained soil deposits be expected to be greater for
horizontal flow than for vertical flow?
The permeability in fine-grained soil deposits is expected to be greater for horizontal
flow than for vertical flow because relative to the sand, the clay is impermeable so the
effect on horizontal flow is to lose 10% of the area of sand available for flow effectively
reducing the equivalent horizontal permeability by 10%. For vertical flow, the equivalent
vertical permeability is only 10 times greater than if it was only clay this increase is close
to the ratio of sand thickness to clay thickness. The flow has to pass through the clay, and
this limits the flow.

9) Briefly give reasons why the coefficient of permeability in an undisturbed clay deposit
possessing a flocculent structure would be expected to be greater than if the same clay had a
dispersed (remolded) structure.

10) A constant-head permeability test is performed in a laboratory where the soil sample is 25 cm
in length and 6

in cross-section. The height of water at the inflow end is maintained at 2 ft,

and at 6 in at the outlet end. The quantity of water flowing through the sample is 200

in 2
min.
a) Make a sketch of the described conditions.
b) What is the coefficient of permeability in centimeters per minute?
(a) k = 0.022 cm/sec
(b) k= 0.013 cm/sec


11) A constant-head permeability test is performed where the hydraulic gradient is 0.75. The cross-
sectional area of the sample is 0.25

. The quantity of water flowing through the sample is

measured to be 0.004

a) What is the coefficient of permeability in feet per minute?
b) What is the coefficient of permeability in centimeters per second?
K = 9.2 cm/min


12) How much water will flow through a soil mass in a 5-min period when the sample length is 15
cm, the cross-section is 2 cm by 2 cm, and a constant head of 2 ft is maintained? The soil has a k
value of 1 x

cm/sec.


13) A falling-head permeability test is performed on a fine-grained soil. The soil sample has a length
of 12 cm and a cross-sectional area of 6

. The water in the standpipe flowing into the soil is

60 cm above the top of the sample at the start of the test. It falls 5 cm in 30 min. The standpipe
has a cross-section of 2

.
a) Make a sketch of the described conditions.
b) What is the coefficient of permeability in centimeters per second?
c) What is the coefficient of permeability in feet per minute?
Q = 48.5

14) A field permeability test is performed by measuring the quantity of water necessary to keep a
boring casing (pipe) filled. The distance from the top of the casing to the bottom is 10 ft. The
groundwater table is below the bottom of the casing. The casing has an inside diameter of 6 in.
In a 10-min period, one gallon of water was used to keep the casing filled. What is the
coefficient of permeability for the soil at the bottom of the casing?

15) A field of permeability test indicates that the coefficient of permeability for a certain soil is 2 x

cm/sec. Is this a relatively high or low coefficient of permeability? What type of soil would
this probably be?

16) To what height would water rise in a glass capillary tube that is 0.01 mm in diameter?
K = 2.04 X

cm/sec


17) What is the water pressure just under the meniscus in a capillary tube where the water has
risen to a height of 6 ft.


18) A glass capillary tube is 0.001 mm in diameter.
a) What is the theoretical maximum height of capillary rise for a tube of this size?
b) What compressive pressure results in the capillary water just under the meniscus?


19) In a silt soil, the

size is 0.01 mm. If the effective pore size for estimating capillary rise is
taken as 1/5 of

, approximately what height of capillary rise will occur?

-375 psf

-6350 psf


20) Why is it expected that the maximum height of capillary rise is greater for fine-grained soils
than for coarse-grained soils?
It is expected that the maximum height of capillary rise is greater for fine-grained
soils than for coarse-grained soils because fine-grained materials have smaller pore
spaces than coarse grained materials and therefore a greater surface area to pore space
ratio. This results in fine grained materials being able to support a greater capillary height
rise than coarse grained materials.

21) How is the height of maximum capillary rise of water in soil affected by temperature?
The height of maximum capillary rise of water in soil affected by temperature through
the capillary fringe extends to the natural ground surface, high temperatures help carry
this moisture away and reduce its effects on the soil. Once a pavement of watertight
surface is applied, however, the effect of the temperature is reduced.

22) Explain how capillarity is related to the dried and firm condition frequently observed to exist in
the surface zone of fine-grained soil deposits.

23) Indicate the ways that capillary water and the effects of capillarity can be removed from soil.