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CHAPTER XV
PERMEABILITY TEST

15.1 PURPOSE
The purpose of this practicum is to determine the coefficient of permeability.
Namely a comparison constant for calculating the discharge of a liquid if it penetrates a
porous medium (water and soil).

15.2 BASIC THEORY

The soil consists of grains with interconnected cavities between the grains.
Therefore the soil has permeability. That is, water can flow or seep through the grains,
even at very slow speeds in fine-grained soils (clay and silt).

Coefficient of permeability has the same unit as speed. The term seepage
coefficient is mostly used by soil engineers (geotechnics), geologists call it hydraulic
conductivity. In international units, the coefficient of permeability is stated in cm / sec,
and the total volume in cm3. (Braja M. Das, 1998).

The coefficient of soil permeability depends on several factors, namely: viscosity,

pore size distribution, grain size distribution, pore number, surface grain roughness, and
degree of soil saturation. In clay soil, soil structure plays an important role in determining
the coefficient of permeability.

The Coefficient of permeability (k) for each type of soil is different. Some
Coefficient of permeability values are in table 15.1.

Tabel 15.1 Coefficient of permeability value.

Type of Soil k (cm/second) Description

Gravel ≥ 0,01 Can be dried by pumping. Namely,

Rough sand 10−2 until 10−3 water will come out of the cavity
Medium sand 10−3 until 10−4 due to gravity.
Fine sand 10−5 until 10−6

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Silt 10−6 until 10−7 Water cannot flow out of the cavity
Silty clay 10−7 until 10−9 due to gravity.
clay 10−9 until 10−11 The water cannot be absorbed.

(Source : Mekanika Tanah, Laurence D. Wesley:2010)

15.3 PRACTICUM RESULT

15.3.1 PRACTICUM DATA

There are two kinds of standard tests in the laboratory that are used to determine
the coefficient of permeability value of a soil. Here are the data obtained from the
practicum:

a. Falling Head
 Burret surface area (a) = π × r2
=
3,14 × 0,72 cm2
= 1,5386 cm2
 The length of the soil sample through which water flows (L)
= 11,4 cm
 Soil surface area (A) = π × r2
=
3,14 × 3,22 cm2
= 32,1536 cm2
 Initial water level (h1) = 72 cm
 Final water level (h2) = 21 cm
 Observation time (t) = 14,26 s

b. Constant Head
 Soil surface area (A) = π × r2
= 3,14 × 3,22 cm2
= 32,1536 cm2
 The length of the soil sample through which water flows (L)
= 10,6 cm

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 Observation time (t) = 9,14 s

 ∆𝐻 = 70 cm
 meassuring glass volume (v) = 100 ml

15.3.2 PRACTICUM CALCULATION

From the practicum data available, it can be used to find the value of the coefficient
of permeability. As follows :

a. Falling Head
∂ . L ℎ
Coefficient of permeability (k) = ln ℎ1
𝐴 . 𝑡 2

1,5386 𝑐𝑚2 . 11,4 cm 72

= 32,1536 𝑐𝑚2 ln 21
. 14,26 𝑠
17,54004
= 458,510336 ln 3,42

= 0,0470 cm/s
= 47 × 10-3 cm/s
b. Constant head
V . L
Coefficient of permeability (k) = 𝐴 . ∆𝐻 . 𝑡
100 ml . 10,6 cm
= 32,1536 𝑐𝑚2 . 70 𝑐𝑚 . 9,14 𝑠
1060
= 20571,8732

= 0,0515 cm/s
= 51,5 × 10-3 cm/s

15.4 CONCLUSION

From the experiment permeability test, we can conclude that :

a. The permeability coefficient value (k) for Falling Head experiment is

47 × 10-3 cm/s ;
b. The permeability coefficient value (k) for Constant Head experiment is
51,5 × 10-3 cm/s

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15.5 ERROR FACTOR

The error factor of this practice are :

a. The tool (ruler) used to measure soil height and burret surface area is not quite
right;
b. The existence of small air bubbles contained in a small hose so that it affects the
observation;

15.6 REFERENCE

M. Das, Braja. (1998). Mekanika Tanah (Prinsip-Prinsip Rekayasa Geoteknis). Jilid 1.

Erlangga, Jakarta.

Wesley D. Laurence. (2012). Mekanika Tanah, untuk endapan dan residu. ANDI,
Yogyakarta

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