Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Student Code of Ethic (SCE) : Department of Infrastructure and Geomatic Engineering
Student Code of Ethic (SCE) : Department of Infrastructure and Geomatic Engineering
(SCE)
DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOMATIC ENGINEERING
I, hereby confess that I have prepared this report on my own effort. I also admit not
to receive or give any help during the preparation of this report and pledge
that everything mentioned in the report is true.
_________________
Student Signature
Name : …………………………………………
Date : …………………………………………
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 1/6
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE 3/01/12
TEST TITLE: CONSTANT HEAD
DATE:
PERMEABILITY TEST
AMENDMENT 3/01/12
DATE:
1.0 OBJECTIVE
TO DETERMINE THE PERMEABILITY OF SANDS AND GRAVELS CONTAINING LITTLE OR NO
SILT.
3.0 THEORY
The most common permeability cell (permeameter) is 75mm in diameter and is intended for sands
containing particles up to about 5mm. A larger cell, 114mm, can be used for testing sands containing
particles up to about 10mm, i.e. medium gravel size. As a general rule the ratio of the cell diameter to the
diameter of the largest size of particle in significant quantity should be at least 12.
The constant head permeability cell is intended for testing disturbed granular soils which are recompacted
into the cell, either by using a specified compactive effort, or to achieve a certain dry density, i.e. void ratio.
In the constant head test, water is made to flow through a column of soil under the application of a pressure
difference which remains constant, i.e. under a constant head. The amount of water passing through the soil
in a known time is measured, and the permeability of the sample is calculated by using Equation (1).
If the connections to the cell are arranged so that water flows upwards through the sample, the critical
hydraulic gradient can be determined after measuring the steady state permeability, and the effects of
instability (boiling and piping) can be observed. It is important that use only air-free water, and measures for
preventing air bubbling out of solution during these tests is very crucial.
q
Permeability, k(m / s) (1)
Ai
1. Constant head permeability cells, fitted with loading piston, perforated plates, flow tube connections,
piezometer nipples and connections, air bleed valve, sealing rings. Figure 1 shows permeameter
cells that commonly used in laboratory testing.
Figure 1: Permeameter cells for constant head test: (a) 75mm, (b) 114mm
(Courtesy of ELE International, 2007)
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 3/6
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE 3/01/12
TEST TITLE: CONSTANT HEAD
DATE:
PERMEABILITY TEST
AMENDMENT 3/01/12
DATE:
5.0 PROCEDURES
Figure 2: General arrangement for constant head permeability test (downward flow)
(Courtesy of ELE International, 2007)
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 5/6
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE 3/01/12
TEST TITLE: CONSTANT HEAD
DATE:
PERMEABILITY TEST
AMENDMENT 3/01/12
DATE:
Reading:
a) Plot the graph of q versus 1/t and determine the value of q at 1/t is equal to zero.
b) Use the q from the graph to calculate the permeability.
Calculations:
q
Permeability, k = = _________________ (m/s)
Ai 60
7.0 QUESTIONS