PERMEABILITY TEST

SOIL MECHANICS

SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA
SRI LANKA
PERMEABILITY TEST

INTRODUCTION

This test demonstrates the laboratory measurement of coefficient of permeability of soil using
(1). Constant Head Permeameter
(2). Falling Head Permeameter

THEORY

The principal of the constant head permeameter is illustrated in Fig. 1. Water from the
reservoir is allowed to flow through a soil sample of known cross sectional area ‘A’ at a
constant rate. The hydraulic head ‘h’ is measured between two points a distance ‘l’ apart. The
water flowing through the sample is collected in a measuring cylinder to find the quantity of
water ‘Q’ passing through the sample during time ‘t’.

According to Darcy’s Law :-

v = ki
Q/ ( Axt ) = k × h/1

Q/t = ( k × A × h ) /1

q = ( k × A/1 ) ×h

Fig. 1. CONSTANT HEAD PERMEAMETER

The principal of the falling head parameter is illustrated in Fig. 2. Water is allowed to run
through the stand pipe of cross sectional area ‘a’ into the sample of cross sectional area ‘A’.
The times t1, t2, t3 etc. are noted when the dropping water level indicates readings h1, h2, h3 etc.

During a small time interval ‘dt’ the change in height of the water level in the stand pipe is (-
dh), the negative sign indicating that the head is decreasing. The volume rate of flow is q = a
(-dh/dt).

Applying Darcy’s Law :-

v = ki
q = Aki

dh k ×h × A
−a × =
dt 1
h2
dh k ×h × A h2
1 kA
t

Integrating; −a ∫
h1
×
dt
=
1
 − ∫h1 h dh = al t∫0 dt
k × A
− a[log e h ] h1 = ×[ t ] t 0
h2 t

1
k × A
− ( log e ( h2 / h1 ) ) = ×(t − t 0)  ( log e ( h1 / h2 ) ) = kA × (t − t 0)
( a ×1) al

Fig. 2. FALLING HEAD PERMEAMETER

PROCEDURE

a. Constant Head Parameter

(1). Transfer the sand to the permeameter. During this process some water should be
added, to ensure that, there are no air bubbles trapped in the sand.

(2). Connect the inlet to the constant head water supply and allow water to pass through,
until the sample gets saturated.

(3). Watch on the water levels of the stand pipes. Wait until their levels become
constant (a steady state has been achieved). Once a steady state has been achieved,
record the time required to collect 1000ml of water.

(4). Note the pressure difference in manometers.

b. Falling Head Parameter

(1). Connect the water supply to graduated tube and open the valve to remove all the air
from the system.

(2). Record the water level in the Stand Pipe at time intervals of 5min or 10min as
appropriate.

Some Additional Data on the Permeameters

Distance between manometers in the constant head apparatus = 93 mm

Diameter of the soil sample in the constant head apparatus = 75 mm
Length of the soil sample in the falling head apparatus = 150 mm
Diameter of the soil sample in the falling head apparatus = 99.6 mm
Determination of the Coefficient of Permeability by the Constant Head Method

Amount of water collected = 1000 ml

Distance between the piezometers = 93 mm
Diameter of the sample = 75 mm

Time to collect
Rate of flow
Set Number 1000 ml water h1 cm h2 cm h cm
M3/s
(sec)
1 20 65.1 95.1 30.0 5.00 E-05
2 25 70.1 94.1 24.0 4.00 E-05
3 30 66.1 86.1 20.0 3.33 E-05
4 35 72.1 89.2 17.1 2.86 E-05
5 40 82.1 97.1 15.0 2.50 E-05
6 45 90.1 103.4 13.3 2.22 E-05

Specimen Computation

From Darcy’s law,

∆h Ak
q = Aki = Ak = × ∆h
l l
From the graph of q vs ∆h ;
5 ×10 −5 − 2.5 ×10 −5
Gradient = = 1.666 ×10 −6 m3/s cm
30 −15

Ak
= 1.666 ×10 −4 m3/s m
l

1.666 × 10 −4 × l 1.666 × 10 −4 × 0.093

k= = m2/s
A π × 0.00752
4
k = 3.51 ×10 −3 m/s
 Constant Head Test
0.00006

0.00005

0.00004
q (m3/s)

0.00003

0.00002

0.00001

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

 h (cm)
Determination of the Coefficient of Permeability by the Falling Head Method

Diameter of the sample = 99.6 mm

Diameter of the stand pipe = 19 mm
Length of the sample = 150 mm
Level of the outlet = 33 cm

Water level h + 33
Time t (min) h0 h1 h0/h1 ln(h0/h1)
(h) (cm) (cm)
2:30 pm 0 90.0 123.0 123.0
2:35 pm 5 87.5 120.5 123.0 120.5 1.021 0.021
2:40 pm 10 85.1 118.1 123.0 118.1 1.041 0.041
2:45 pm 15 83.1 116.1 123.0 116.1 1.059 0.058
2:50 pm 20 80.6 113.6 123.0 113.6 1.083 0.080
2:55 pm 25 78.1 111.1 123.0 111.1 1.107 0.102
3:00 pm 30 76.4 109.4 123.0 109.4 1.124 0.117
3:05 pm 35 74.2 107.2 123.0 107.2 1.147 0.137
3:10 pm 40 72.2 105.2 123.0 105.2 1.169 0.156
3:15 pm 45 70.1 103.1 123.0 103.1 1.193 0.176
3:20 pm 50 68.1 101.1 123.0 101.1 1.217 0.196

Ak
ln ( h0 / h1 ) = × ( t1 − t0 )
al

From the plot of ln ( h0 / h1 ) vs ( t1 − t 0 ) ;

Ak −1
Gradient = = 0.00039 min
al

π 
0.0039 ×   ×19 2 × 0.150
0.0039 × a × l 4
k= = m/s
A π
 
  × 99 .6 × 60
2

4
k = 3.77 ×10 −7 ms-1
 Falling Head Test

0.25

0.2

0.15
ln(h0/h1)

0.1

0.05

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

t (min)