Name Muhammad Zohaib Khan

Registration no BSETC-021R19-4

Semester 3rd semester

Subject Soil Mechanics Theory

Instructor name Engr.Mehwish Saleem

Assignment 08
Question # 01:
Differentiate between constant and falling
head permeability test.
The constant head permeability test is a common
laboratory testing method used to determine
the permeability of granular soils like sands and
gravels containing little or no silt. This testing
method is made for testing reconstituted or
disturbed granular soil samples.

Description and Procedure

The constant head permeability test involves flow

of water through a column of cylindrical soil sample
under the constant pressure difference. The test is
carried out in the permeability cell, or
permeameter, which can vary in size depending on
the grain size of the tested material. The soil sample
has a cylindrical form with its diameter being large
enough in order to be representative of the tested
soil. As a rule of thumb, the ratio of the cell
diameter to the largest grain size diameter should
be higher than 12 (Head 1982). The usual size of the
cell often used for testing common sands is 75 mm
diamater and 260 mm height between perforated
plates. The testing apparatus is equipped with a
adjustable constant head reservoir and an outlet
reservoir which allows maintaining a constant head
during the test. Water used for testing is de-aired
water at constant temperature. The permeability
cell is also equipped with a loading piston that can
be used to apply constant axial stress to the sample
during the test. Before starting the flow
measurements, however, the soil sample is
saturated. During the test, the amount of water
flowing through the soil column is measured for
given time intervals.
Knowing the height of the soil sample column L, the
sample cross section A, and the constant pressure
difference Δh, the volume of passing water Q, and
the time interval ΔT, one can calculate the
permeability of the sample as
K=QL / (A.Δh.Δt)
The falling head permeability test is a common
laboratory testing method used to determine
the permeability of fine grained soils with
intermediate and low permeability such as silts and
clays. This testing method can be applied to an
undisturbed sample.
Description and Procedure

The falling head permeability test involves flow of

water through a relatively short soil sample
connected to a standpipe which provides the water
head and also allows measuring the volume of
water passing through the sample. The diameter of
the standpipe depends on the permeability of the
tested soil. The test can be carried out in a Falling
Head permeability cell or in an oedometer cell.

Before starting the flow measurements, the soil

sample is saturated and the standpipes are filled
with de-aired water to a given level. The test then
starts by allowing water to flow through the sample
until the water in the standpipe reaches a given
lower limit. The time required for the water in the
standpipe to to drop from the upper to the lower
level is recorderd. Often, the standpipe is refilled
and the test is repeated for couple of times. The
recorded time should be the same for each test
within an allowable variation of about 10% (Head
1982) otherwise the test is failed.

On the basis of the test results, the permeability of

the sample can be calculated as
K=[2.3 a.L / (A.Δt)].Log(h_U / h_L)
in which we have

L: the height of the soil sample column

A: the sample cross section
a: the cross section of the standpipe
Δt: the recorded time for the water column to flow
though the sample
h_U and h_L : the upper and lower water level in
the standpipe measured using the same water head
reference.
Question :
Which permeability test is used for the
following tests:
• Silt
• Clay
• Sand
What is Permeability of Soil
Soil permeability, or hydraulic conductivity, is the
rate of the flow of water through soil materials, and
it is an essential characteristic across a broad
spectrum of engineering and earth-science
disciplines.
Geotechnical and civil engineers, hydrogeologists,
soil, and environmental scientists all use this
information for projects such as structural
foundations, embankments, earthen dams, flood
management, effluent infiltration, and more. It’s no
surprise that porosity and permeability of soils are
related.
Factors that Affect Soil Permeability
Soil voids create an easy path for the movement of
water, but other factors like hydraulic gradient, soil
type, texture, and particle size distribution also
affect permeability.
Darcy’s law, which dictates all results from soil
permeability tests, is an equation describing the
movement of fluids through a porous medium. This
equation defines the coefficient of permeability or
hydraulic conductivity of soils, a ratio of fluid
velocity through the soil matrix to the hydraulic
gradient.
Coefficient of Permeability
The coefficient of permeability (K) is the velocity in
meters or centimeters per second of water through
soils. Fine-grained soils such as clays might have
values of around 10-8meters/sec or lower, or a sand
and gravel formation could be 10-4meters/sec or
higher.
Soil permeability can be estimated using empirical
methods like soil survey mapping, soil texture, or
particle size distribution. However, a variety of
different laboratory and field test methods make it
just as easy to measure these properties directly.
The soil type and purpose of the test, accuracy
required, and specimen type influence the selected
test method.
This blog will be your guide in selecting equipment
to meet the test method requirements and match
to the soil type.
How is Soil Permeability Measured
Soil Permeability tests take place under either
constant head or falling head conditions:
Constant Head Test refers to an apparatus where
the same relative elevation of the top of the water
column (head pressure) remains over the sample
throughout the test. It is a valid test for soils with a
high rate of flow like sands and gravels, but also
some clay soils.
Falling Head Test allows the head to decrease as
water infiltrates the sample, diminishing the
pressure over the course of the test. Falling head
methods are generally limited to fine-grained soils.
Soil Permeability Testing Equipment
 Flexible-Wall Permeability
Cells described in ASTM D5084, measure hydraulic
conductivity of soils using several methods. The
methods within this standard allow several
variations on the constant and falling head
methods, including tests for the constant rate of
flow, and constant volume tests with pressures
controlled by mercury. The test specimen can be
prepared from undisturbed borehole samples
(Shelby tubes) or by compacting soils in a mold to
specified density. The sample is encased in a latex
membrane and placed inside a fluid-filled,
pressurized test cell. A system of valves and
burettes mounted on a logic panel permits three-
dimensional control of confining pressures on the
sample as well as the permeant (typically water)
used. The monitoring of sample deformation and
volume change takes place throughout the
procedure. Although this test is standard and widely
specified, it requires considerable sample
preparation and can take several days to complete.
Karol-Warner manufactures Gilson's complete
selection of test cells, control panels, and sample
preparation accessories for flexible-wall
permeability testing.

Constant Head
Permeameters measure the coefficient of
permeability of non-plastic soils with no more than
10% of particles passing a 75µm (No. 200) test
sieve. The procedure described in AASHTO T 215 is
also a withdrawn standard in ASTM D2434. The test
is performed under constant head conditions in a
rigid-wall sand and gravel permeameter with a
diameter of 8 to 12 times the maximum particle size
and equipped with porous stones to prevent sample
loss. Two manometer ports connect to a double-
tube manometer to measure changes in head
pressure during the test. A constant head
tank supplies deaired water to the specimen.
Permeability tests can be performed with the
sample from 0% to 100% relative density, as
required. After compacting thin layers of the
prepared granular soil sample in the permeameter,
a special sliding-weight compaction hammer or
vibrating tamper provides a higher relative density
if required. The test is initiated after the vacuum
saturation of the sample with deaired water.
Readings for time, head (water levels in the
manometer tubes), and quantity of flow under
intervals of increasing head pressures determine
final results.
Constant/Falling Head Permeameters allow the
option of testing granular soils under either
constant head or falling head conditions but do not
meet published ASTM or AASHTO test method
requirements. They share a similar design with the
ASTM/AASHTO granular soil permeameters but
have a single port for connection to a single-tube
manometer. Test set-up and sample preparation
are identical to the ASTM/AASHTO permeameters.

Compaction Permeameters are

4in or 6in (102 or 152mm) soil moisture/density
(Proctor) compaction molds supplied with upper
and lower plates fitted with valves and ports to
function as permeameters. Either constant head or
falling head permeability testing can be performed
directly on the compacted specimens with no need
for extensive preparation. Proctor or California
Bearing Ratio (CBR) samples molded using standard
compaction methods. Porous stones at either end
of the samples provide drainage. There are no
specific ASTM/AASHTO test methods for these
devices, but they provide useful information in the
design process. Permeability testing with
compaction permeameters uses conventional
equipment and techniques. Double-tube
manometers connect to inlet and outflow ports to
measure the flow of the deaired water.

Shelby Tube
Permeameters are kits of components to build a
permeameter around a section of an undisturbed
sample retained in a 3in (76mm) Shelby tube. The
specimen does not need to be extruded, ensuring
minimal disturbance to silty or sandy materials or
bedding structures of sensitive soils. ASTM or
AASHTO documents do not cover the test method,
but it allows constant or falling head testing on
minimally disturbed specimens. A section of the
tube is cut to a maximum length of 6in (152mm)
using a large pipe cutter, or band saw. End caps
have ports for water inflow and egress positioned at
each end of the sample for connection to double-
tube manometers. Threaded rods secure the
permeameter assembly.
Menu
Double-Ring Infiltrometers measure soil
infiltration rates in the field for geotechnical
and environmental applications such as dam
and reservoir design or liquid waste and
leaching studies. This constant head test
follows ASTM D3385 methods and produces
optimum results on uniform fine-grained soils.
Two metal rings are positioned concentrically
and driven into the ground at the test site.
After filling the test rings with water, two
Mariotte tube devices maintain the liquid at a
constant level. Volume changes observed in the
tubes during the test determine the infiltration
rate. Although this rate is a measurement of
fluid movement through soil, it can only be
directly related to the coefficient of
permeability or hydraulic conductivity if there is
considerable prior knowledge of the hydraulic
properties. Still, the information the test
provides is valuable, and its use is well-
established.
Soil permeability formula :
Permeability is a property of foundry sand with
respect to how well the sand can vent, i.e. how well
gases pass through the sand. And in other
words, permeability is the property by which we can
know the ability of material to transmit fluid/gases.
Generally speaking, sand is more porous than clay
because sand particles are larger and the pore
spaces between the particles are also larger. ... A
rock mass can be porous but not
particularly permeable. So fluids may get into the
rock but can't move around through it very well -
such a rock is porous but not permeable.
Some surface soils in the area have a high clay
content (very small particles), so they have high
porosity but low permeability. Adding sand helps
increase the average soil particle size, increasing
the permeability.
Clay is the most porous sediment but is the least
permeable. Clay usually acts as an aquitard,
impeding the flow of water. Gravel and sand are
both porous and permeable, making them good
aquifer materials. Gravel has the highest
permeability.
Clay textured soils have small pore spaces that
cause water to drain slowly through the
soil. Clay soils are known to have low permeability,
which results in low infiltration rates and poor
drainage. As more water fills the pore space, the air
is pushed out.
Permeability is that property which allows gas and
moisture to pass through the moulding sand. It is
determined by measuring the rate of flow of air
through A.F.S. standard rammed specimen under a
standard pressure. The volume of air in cm3 / min.
Permeability refers to how connected pore spaces
are to one another. If the material has
high permeability than pore spaces are connected
to one another allowing water to flow from one to
another, however, if there is low permeability then
the pore spaces are isolated and water is trapped
within them.
Factors affecting permeability of soils. A number of
factors affect the permeability of soils, from particle
size, impurities in the water, void ratio, the degree
of saturation, and adsorbed water, to
entrapped air and organic material.
Factors affecting permeability of soils. A number of
factors affect the permeability of soils, from particle
size, impurities in the water, void ratio, the degree
of saturation, and adsorbed water, to
entrapped air and organic material.
Permeability refers to the movement of air and
water through the soil, which is important because
it affects the supply of root-zone air, moisture, and
nutrients available for plant upto particles (silt
and clay) have a larger surface area than those with
larger sand particles, and a large surface area
allows a soil to hold more water. In other words, a
soil with a high percentage of silt and clay particles,
which describes fine soil, has a higher water-holding
capacity.
Surprisingly, clay can have high porosity too
because clay has a greater surface area than sand,
therefore, more water can remain in the soil.
However, clay has bad permeability. ... Some
surface soils in the area have a high clay content
(very small particles), so they have high porosity but
low permeability.
A typical maximum value is about 15 but this can be
as high as 30 if the pressure gradient is very high.
For very permeable materials conveying air
velocities can also be very low, but solids loading
ratios are also very low, with a typical maximum
value of about 30.
If your soil contains more clay, like mine does, you
can improve permeability by adding… you
guessed it - aged manure or compost! Compost and
aged manure add organic material to the soil,
creating a wider variety of sizes of both soil and
spaces. This variety allows for healthier growth and
drainage.