Result & Data Analysis (Constant Head Permeability Test)

Location: Geotechnical Laboratory Sample no: N/A

Operator: Group 2 Date:17/6/2020
Soil description: Fine to medium light brown sand
Method of preparation: Placed dry in 3 layers and lightly tamped
Sample diameter: 80 mm Sample length: 232 mm
Sample area, A: 5026 mm2 Sample volume: 1166 cm3
Sample dry mass: 1925 g Sample dry density: 16.19 kN/m3
S.G. measured/assumed: 2.7 (Assumed) Voids ratio: -
Heights above datum: inlet 1910 mm Heights above datum: outlet 160 mm
Manometer a: 4.11 mm Manometer b: - mm Manometer c: 3.60 mm
Head difference a to c: 15 mm Distance difference: 100 mm
Flow upwards/downwards: Downwards Hydraulic gradients: 0.15
Temperature: 19.5°C

Reading:
Time from start Time interval, t Measured flow, Rate of flow, q = Q/t 1
Q √t
min. min. ml/min
ml
1 1 400 400.00 1.00
2 1 370 370.00 1.00
3 1 350 350.00 1.00
4 1 340 340.00 1.00
5 1 320 320.00 1.00
7 2 800 400.00 0.71
9 2 790 395.00 0.71
11 2 780 390.00 0.71
13 2 770 385.00 0.71
15 2 770 385.00 0.71
18 3 1200 400.00 0.58
21 3 1150 383.33 0.58
26 5 1950 390.00 0.45
q
Calculations: Permeability, k = Ai
Example of calculation:
i=Head difference a ¿ b ¿
Distance difference
15
¿
100
¿ 0.15

Convert rate of flow from the unit (ml/min) to ¿);

ml 1L 1 m3 1 min m3
q ( )× × ×
min 1000ml 1000 L 60 s
=q( )
s

When q=400 ml/min

400 ml 1L 1m 3 1 min
¿ × × ×
min 1000ml 1000 L 60 s
¿ 6.67 ×10−6 m3 / s

q
Calculate permeability, K = when
Ai
q = 6.67 ×10−6,
2 m2 −3 2
A = 5026 mm × 2
=5.026 × 10 m
100000 mm
i=0.15

K=6.67 ×10−6 / (5.026 ×10−3 × 0.15¿

¿ 8.85 ×10−3 m/s

Calculate value of permeability, K by using another values of flow rate, q.

Rate of flow, q=Q/t q

Permeability, K = Ai
m 3 /s m/s
−6
6.67 ×10 8.85 ×10−3
6.17 ×10−6 8.18 ×10−3
 5.83 ×10−6 7.73 ×10−3
5.67 ×10−6 7.52 ×10−3
5.33 ×10−6 7.07 ×10−3
6.67 ×10−6 8.85 ×10−3
6.58 ×10−6 8.73 ×10−3
6.50 ×10−6 8.62 ×10−3
6.42 ×10−6 8.52 ×10−3
6.42 ×10−6 8.52 ×10−3
6.67 ×10−6 8.85 ×10−3
6.39 ×10−6 8.48 ×10−3
6.50 ×10−6 8.62 ×10−3

Question
1. Determine the coefficient of permeability for the given soil sample.
Ans: Average coefficient of permeability, k avg

¿ ( 8.85+8.18+7.73+ 7.52+7.07 +8.85+8.73+8.62+ 8.52+ 8.52+ 8.85+8.48+8.62 ) ×10−6 ÷ 13

¿ 8.35 ×10−3 m/s

2. Discuss and give the conclusion for this test.

Ans: The purpose to conduct this test is to determine the coefficient of permeability for
soil sample. The objective for this experiment was achieved and consider successful
since the value of permeability coefficient for soil sample, k was calculated. The value of
permeability coefficient for soil sample, k was equal to 8.35 ×10−3 m/ s.