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6
PERMEABILITY OF SOILS
DEFINITION
Permeability is the property of soil which permits flow of water through it from
points of high energy to points of low energy, due to existence of interconnected
voids.
INTRODUCTION
A soil is highly pervious when water can flow through it easily. In an impervious
soil, the permeability is very low and water cannot easily flows through it.
DARCY’S LAW
v=ki
If the quantity of water (discharge) flowing through the soil in unit times is q,
then:
q=vA=kiA
Where:
q = quantity of fluid flowing through the soil in unit time (volume/ time).
h
i = hydraulic gradient. i=
L
A = cross sectional area of soil mass includes both the solids and the voids.
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Lab. Report NO. 6
The value of (k) varies widely for different soils. Some typical values for saturated
soils are given in table (1). The coefficient of permeability for unsaturated soils is
lower and increases rapidly with the degree of saturation.
Table (1): gives the typical values of the coefficient of permeability of different soils.
Fluid viscosity: The coefficient of permeability is standardized at 20°C, and the coefficient
of permeability at any temperature T is related to k20:
T
k20 = kT
20
T
The variation of with the test temperature is given in table (2).
20
T
Table (2): Variation of .
20
Temperature, T T Temperature, T T
(°C) 20 (°C) 20
10 1.301 21 0.976
11 1.265 22 0.953
12 1.230 23 0.931
13 1.197 24 0.910
14 1.165 25 0.889
15 1.135 26 0.869
16 1.106 27 0.850
17 1.077 28 0.832
18 1.051 29 0.814
19 1.025 30 0.797
20 1.000
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Lab. Report NO. 6
PERMEABILITY TEST
PURPOSES
- To control seepage velocities such that fine particles of soil mass not eroded.
Two standard laboratory tests are used to determine the coefficient of permeability
of soil:
In the constant head test, water is made to flow through a column of soil under
application of a pressure difference which remains constant, i.e. under a constant
head. See Figure (1).
APPARATUS
1- Permeameter cell as shown in Figure (1), with, loading piston, perforated plates,
flow tube connections, piezometer connections and air bleed valve.
3- Graduated cylinder.
8- Timer.
9- Thermometer.
10-Ruler (scale).
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Lab. Report NO. 6
11-Vacuum device.
PROCEDURE
1- Remove a loading piston of permeameter cell, then measure the inside diameter,
height of it and the distance between centers of each piezometer connection
points.
2- Place graded gravel filter materials in the bottom of the cell to a depth about
40mm and level the surface, then put a wire gauze on it.
3- Place the sample in the permeameter cell by one of three following methods,
4- After placing the sample in the cell measure the length of it at two or three
positions and calculate the average length (Ls).
5- Put a wire gauze on the top of the soil sample, then place graded gravel filter
materials in the top of the soil sample to a depth about 40mm and level the surface,
then assembly the top part of the permeameter cell.
6- Saturated the specimen by immersing in water for water (15 min) or by other
methods.
7- Connect the top of the cell to the inlet water tank and the base to the outlet
water tank; also connect the piezometer to the cell.
8- Turn on the water supply to the constant head device which should be at low
level.
9- Allow water to flow through the sample until the conditions appears to be steady
and water level in the piezometer tubes remains constant.
10- To start a test run, empty the measuring cylinder and start time at the instant
the cylinder is placed under the outlet overflow.
11- Record the clock time at which the first run is started.
12- Read the level of water in the piezometer tubes (h1, h2 and h3), and measure
the water temperature (T) in the outlet tank, when the level in the cylinder reaches
a predetermined level.
13- Empty the cylinder and make two to three repeat runs at about (5 min.)
intervals.
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Lab. Report NO. 6
CALCULATION
1- Calculate
QL
kT = i = Δh/ L
Aht
T
k20 = kT
20
Where:
i = hydraulic gradient.
c b a
Δh
Perforated
plate
L A
Q
Wire
gauze
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Lab. Report NO. 6
DISCUSSION
2- What is the effect of the shape of the soil particle on the permeability? Explain.
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Lab. Report NO. 6
a and c =
QL
kT =
Aht