Assignment

In
Hydraulics

Limuel Villapando
BSCE-IV

TTH / 8:00-9:00
Falling head permeability test
The falling head permeability test is a common laboratory testing method used to
determine the permeability of fine grained soils with intermediate and low permeability
such as silts and clays. This testing method can be applied to an undisturbed sample.

Permeability is a measure of the ease in which water can flow through a soil volume. It is one of the
most important geotechnical parameters. However, it is probably the most difficult parameter to
determine. In large part, it controls the strength and deformation behavior of soils. It directly affects
the following: ™

 quantity of water that will flow toward an excavation ™

 design of cutoffs beneath dams on permeable foundations ™
 design of the clay layer for a landfill liner.

For fine grained soil Falling head permeability test is done, whereas constant head permeability test
is done for the coarse grained soil.

Description and Procedure

The falling head permeability test involves flow of water through a relatively short soil
sample connected to a standpipe which provides the water head and also allows measuring
the volume of water passing through the sample. The diameter of the standpipe depends on
the permeability of the tested soil. The test can be carried out in a Falling Head permeability
cell or in an oedometer cell.
Rising head Permeability test
- A soil permeability test in which the level of water in a borehole is reduced and then
the rate at which the water recovers is observed.
- is initiated by rapidly lowering the water level in the control well and then taking
measurements of the rising water level in the well. Baildown test and slug-out
test are alternate terms for rising-head test.

Normalized Head

Initial displacement, designated as H0, represents the change in water level (rise or fall)
from the static (pre-test) position that occurs at the start of a slug test. Subsequent
displacement readings, H, are recorded as the water level in the well returns to static.

Displacement readings are often transformed to normalized head, H/H0, for graphical
analysis. Normalized heads range from 0 (static condition) to 1 (the initial displacement).