Chapter 7 Permeability of Soil

Republic of the Philippines
CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

F. Pimentel Avenue, Brgy. 2, Daet, Camarines Norte – 4600, Philippines
College of Engineering
CE7a/b – Geotechnical EngineeringSumm
1 (Soil Mechanics) (Lecture & Laboratory)
Second Semester, AY 2019-2020
Finals
Chapter 7 – Permeability of Soil

The existence of interconnected voids makes the soil
permeable, thus, enabling water to flow from points of high energy to
points of low energy. The permeability of soil is an important factor to
considered especially in pumping water for underground construction
and analysis of stability of soils that are subjected to seepage forces.
Let us first recall and apply the Bernoulli Equation to the flow
of water in a porous soil (refer to the figure on the right). The velocity
head is neglected since the seepage velocity is very small. Now, we
can write the total head h as:
𝒖
𝒉= +𝒁
𝜸𝒘
And the headloss between points A and B can be expressed
as:
𝒖𝑨 𝒖𝑩
𝜟𝒉 = 𝒉𝑨 − 𝒉𝑩 = ( + 𝒁𝑨 ) − ( + 𝒁𝑩 )
𝜸𝒘 𝜸𝒘
The headloss can be also expressed as:
𝜟𝒉
𝒊=
𝑳
Where i is the hydraulic gradient and L is the distance between A and B simply the length of flow.
Darcy’s Law
Darcy’s Law, which was published by Henri Philibert Gaspard Darcy in 1856, describes the flow of a fluid
through a porous medium.
𝒗 = 𝒌𝒊
Where v is the discharge velocity or the amount of water flowing per unit time through a unit gross cross-
sectional perpendicular to the direction of flow and k is the hydraulic conductivity or coefficient of permeability.
The seepage velocity is given by:

𝒗
𝒗𝒔 =
𝒏
Hydraulic Conductivity
Hydraulic conductivity is dependent to several factors such as fluid viscosity, pore-size distribution, grain-size
distribution, void ratio, roughness of mineral particles, and degree of saturation. This coefficient is expressed cm/sec or
m/ sec in SI Units and ft/min or ft/day in English Units.
𝜸𝒘
𝒌= 𝑲
𝜼
Where η is the viscosity of water and K is the absolute permeability which is expressed in L2 (cm2, ft2, and so
on).
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Finals
Example Problem:
The hydraulic conductivity of a clayey soil is 3x10-7 cm/sec. If the viscosity of water at 25° is
0.0911x10-4 g-s/cm2, what is the absolute permeability of the soil?
Solution:
𝛾𝑤
𝑘= 𝐾
𝜂
1𝑔/𝑐𝑚3
3x10−7 𝑐𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐 = 𝑔 • 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝐾
0.0911x10−4
𝑐𝑚2
𝑲 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟑𝟑𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟏 𝒄𝒎𝟐
Example Problem:
Find the flow rate in m 3/sec/m length (at right angles to
the cross section shown) through the permeable soil layer
shown in the figure given H=8m, H1=3m, h=4m, L=50m, α=8°
and k=0.08cm/sec.
Solution:
50𝑚
𝑐𝑜𝑠 8° =
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤
𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 = 50.4914𝑚
0.08𝑐𝑚 4𝑚
𝑞 = 𝑘𝑖𝐴 = ( )( ) (3𝑚) (cos(8°))(1𝑚)
𝑠𝑒𝑐 50.4914
−𝟑 𝟑
𝒒 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟖𝟖𝟑𝒙𝟏𝟎 𝒎 /𝒔𝒆𝒄/𝒎
Laboratory Determination of Hydraulic Conductivity

The Constant Head Test and Falling Head Test can be carried out in the laboratory to determine the hydraulic
conductivity of soil.
Constant Head Test
The figure at the next page shows the typical setup for a constant head test. In this test, the water supply is
adjusted to keep the difference of head between the inlet and outlet constant. When this is achieved, water is collected
in a graduated volume for a certain length of time.
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Finals
The total volume of water collected, Q is given by:
𝑸 = 𝑨𝒗𝒕 = 𝑨(𝒌𝒊)𝒕
And since we know the value of time t and the cross-

sectional area A, we can obtain the value of hydraulic conductivity
by:
𝑸𝑳
𝒌=
𝑨𝒉𝒕
The derivation of this formula is left to the students.
Example Problem:
A constant head test (refer to figure above) gives the following values:
Length = 30cm
Area of the specimen = 177cm 2
Head difference = 50cm
Volume of water collected in 5 mins = 350cm 3
Determine the hydraulic conductivity in cm/sec.
Solution:
𝑄𝐿 350𝑐𝑚3 (30𝑐𝑚)
𝑘= =
𝐴ℎ𝑡 177𝑐𝑚2 (50𝑐𝑚)(300𝑠)
𝒌 = 𝟑. 𝟗𝟓𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒄𝒎/𝒔𝒆𝒄
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Finals
Falling Head Test

In performing this test water is allowed to flow in through the soil
specimen. The initial and final heads as well as their corresponding times
are also recorded. The flow rate q at any time t is given by:
𝒉 𝒅𝒉
𝒒 = 𝒌 𝑨 = −𝒂
𝑳 𝒅𝒕
Where the a is the area of the standpipe and A is the area of the
specimen. Equating the two formulas for q, rearranging and then integrating
with limits of time from 0 to time t and head difference from h1 to h2, we get:
𝒂𝑳 𝒉𝟏
𝒌 = 𝟐. 𝟑𝟎𝟑 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎
𝑨𝒕 𝒉𝟐
Example Problem:
The following data are recorded from a falling head test.
Length of specimen = 8in.
Area of Soil Specimen = 1.6in2
Area of standpipe = 0.06in2
Initial head difference (at t=0) = 20 in.
Final head difference (at t=180 sec) = 12in.
Determine the hydraulic conductivity of the soil in in/sec.
Solution:
𝑎𝐿 ℎ1 (0.06𝑖𝑛2 )(8𝑖𝑛) 20𝑖𝑛
𝑘 = 2.303 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 = 2.303 𝑙𝑜𝑔10
𝐴𝑡 ℎ2 (1.60𝑖𝑛2 )(180𝑠) 12𝑖𝑛
𝒌 = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟓𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒊𝒏/𝒔𝒆𝒄
Equivalent Hydraulic Conductivity in Stratified Soil

There are some cases when water flows through a stratified soil. Each layer of soil has a corresponding
hydraulic conductivity. In order to simplify the calculation, we can compute the equivalent hydraulic conductivity of the
multilayered soil.
Horizontal Direction:
𝑖𝑒𝑞 = 𝑖1 = 𝑖2 = ⋯ = 𝑖𝑛
𝟏
𝒌𝑯(𝒆𝒒) = (𝒌 𝑯 + 𝒌𝑯𝟐 𝑯𝟐 + 𝒌𝑯𝟑 𝑯𝟑 + ⋯ + 𝒌𝑯𝒏 𝑯𝒏
𝑯 𝑯𝟏 𝟏
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Finals
Vertical Direction:
𝑣 = 𝑣1 = 𝑣2 = ⋯ = 𝑣𝑛 and ℎ = ℎ1 + ℎ2 + ⋯ + ℎ𝑛
𝑯
𝒌𝑽(𝒆𝒒) =
𝑯 𝑯 𝑯 𝑯
( 𝟏) + ( 𝟐) + ( 𝟑)+ ⋯+ ( 𝒏)
𝒌𝒗𝟏 𝒌𝒗𝟐 𝒌𝒗𝟑 𝒌𝒗𝒏
Students are to prove the equations for equivalent hydraulic conductivity for horizontal and vertical flow.
Page 5 of 7
Finals
Example Problem:
The data for the layered soil shown are given below:
H1 = 2m k1 = 10-4 cm/sec
H2 = 3m k2 = 3.2x10-2 cm/sec
H3 = 4m k3 = 4.1x10-5 cm/sec
Determine equivalent hydraulic conductivity of the soil in

in/sec. if the flow is
a) horizontal;
b) vertical.
Solution:
a. horizontal flow
1
𝑘𝐻(𝑒𝑞) = (𝑘𝐻1 𝐻1 + 𝑘𝐻2 𝐻2 + 𝑘𝐻3 𝐻3 )
𝐻
1 𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚
𝑘𝐻(𝑒𝑞) = [(10−4 ) (2𝑚) + (3.2x10−2 ) (3𝑚) + (4.1x10−5 ) (4𝑚)]
(2𝑚 + 3𝑚 + 4𝑚) 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝒄𝒎
𝒌𝑯(𝒆𝒒) = 𝟏𝟎𝟕. 𝟎𝟕𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟒
𝒔𝒆𝒄
b. vertical flow
𝐻
𝑘𝑉(𝑒𝑞) = 𝐻 𝐻 𝐻
( 1 )+ ( 2 )+ ( 3 )
𝑘𝑣1 𝑘𝑣2 𝑘𝑣3
2𝑚+3𝑚+4𝑚
𝑘𝑉(𝑒𝑞) = 2𝑚 3𝑚 4𝑚
( 𝑐𝑚 )+ ( 𝑐𝑚 )+ ( 𝑐𝑚 )
10−4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 3.2x10−2 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4.1x10−5 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝒄𝒎
𝒌𝑽(𝒆𝒒) = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟔𝟓𝐱𝟏𝟎−𝟒
𝒔𝒆𝒄
Permeability Test in the Field by Pumping from Wells

From one of the previous topics, we have learned that the constant head test and falling head test are performed
in the laboratory in order to determine the hydraulic conductivity of a soil sample. However, we can also determine the
hydraulic conductivity of soil in the field. This is done by pumping tests from wells. There are two possible cases for this
test. The soil may be unconfined and underlain by an impermeable layer or may be a confined aquifer.
Unconfined Aquifer
This test uses several observation wells located at various radial distances from the test well. Water is pumped
out of the test well at a constant rate and the water level at the observation wells are recorded. When the water levels
at the observation and tests wells become constant, the rate of flow of ground water into the well is equal to the rate of
discharge from pumping and can now be written as:
𝑑ℎ
𝑞 = 𝑘 ( ) 2𝜋𝑟ℎ
𝑑𝑟
After rearranging, and simultaneously integrating the left side from r2 to r1 and the right side from h2 to h1, we
get:
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Finals
𝒓𝟏
𝟐. 𝟑𝟎𝟑𝒒 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ( )
𝒓𝟐
𝒌=
𝝅(𝒉𝟐𝟏 − 𝒉𝟐𝟐 )
Confined Aquifer
If the case is that of a confined aquifer, the
hydraulic conductivity can be determined by
conducting a pumping test from a well with a
perforated casing that penetrates the full depth of the
aquifer and by observing the piezometric level in a
number of observation wells at various radial
distances. This is done with a uniform pumping rate
q, until a steady state reached. The steady state of
discharge can be written as:
𝑑ℎ
𝑞 = 𝑘 ( ) 2𝜋𝑟𝐻
𝑑𝑟
After rearranging, and simultaneously

integrating the left side from r2 to r1 and the right side
from h2 to h1, we get:
𝒓
𝒒 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 ( 𝟏 )
𝒓𝟐
𝒌=
𝟐. 𝟕𝟐𝟕𝑯(𝒉𝟏 − 𝒉𝟐 )
Page 7 of 7

Chapter 7 Permeability of Soil

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Republic of the Philippines

CAMARINES NORTE STATE COLLEGE

Chapter 7 – Permeability of Soil

The seepage velocity is given by:

Laboratory Determination of Hydraulic Conductivity

The total volume of water collected, Q is given by:

And since we know the value of time t and the cross-

The derivation of this formula is left to the students.

Falling Head Test

Determine the hydraulic conductivity of the soil in in/sec.

Equivalent Hydraulic Conductivity in Stratified Soil

Determine equivalent hydraulic conductivity of the soil in

Permeability Test in the Field by Pumping from Wells

After rearranging, and simultaneously

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