FALLING HEAD PERMEABILITY TEST

Introduction

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. 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. The test uses a falling head permeameter,
which is an instrument in which water is passed through a soil sample and the hydraulic gradient and
quantity of water flowing into the sample are measured.

Theory background

The falling head principle is applied in this case to measure the permeability. The equation used to
determine the permeability of fine-grained soils is given as;

𝑎𝐿 ℎ1
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑘 = 𝑙𝑛 ( )
𝐴(𝑡2 − 𝑡1 ) ℎ2

To convert natural logarithms to base logarithms, multiply by 2.303. If k is expressed in m/s, the above
equation becomes

2.303𝑎𝐿 ℎ1
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑘 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 ( )
𝐴(𝑡2 − 𝑡1 ) ℎ2

Applying this to our procedure and data,

2.303𝑎𝐿 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐻1 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐻2

𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑘 = × (𝑐𝑚/sec)
𝐴 𝑡2 − 𝑡1

Where

K = Coefficient of permeability (cm/sec)

a = Cross sectional area of manometer tube (sq.cm)

L = Length of sample under test (cm)

A = Cross sectional area of sample (sq.cm)

H1 = Initial head of water (cm)

H2 = Head of water indicated at the end of a particular period of time (cm)

t1 = Start time (sec)

t2 = Time corresponding to H2 (sec)

Objective

To determine the coefficient of permeability of the test soil sample using the falling head method.

Apparatus

1. A standard compaction mould

2. A stand with a screw
3. A stopwatch
4. A burette
5. A soaking tank
6. A meter ruler
7. A washing bottle

The setup is illustrated below:

Procedure

1. The soil sample is first prepared by placing it into the mould, trimming it, and determining the weight
and moisture content.

2. The mould is then mounted into the cage with the gauze on top and bottom and the cap screwed
down.
3. The mould is then placed in a soaking tank which is slowly filled with air free distilled water. The
vacuum in the sample pulls the water up into the sample thus completely saturating it.

4. The saturated sample is then connected up through tubing filled with air-free distilled water to the
burette which has also been filled with air-free distilled water.

5. The water is then allowed to fall through the sample and the time required for it to pass through is
recorded.

6. The burette is refilled with water and the test repeated many times, with each time duration being
recorded.

Results

Mould No. = 2

Soil type = Red soil

Height = 116 mm

Diameter of mould = 104 mm

Area of sample = 8494.87 mm2

Area of burette = 95 mm2

Time in Minutes Head in cm Log10

0 96.2 1.9831

2 93.4 1.9703

4 91.0 1.9590

6 88.7 1.9479

8 86.0 1.9344

10 83.4 1.9211
Analysis

Time in Head in cm Log10 Time in

Minutes Seconds
0 96.2 1.983175072 0
2 93.4 1.970346876 120
4 91 1.959041392 240
6 88.7 1.94792362 360
8 86 1.934498451 480
10 83.4 1.921166051 600

Graph of Log H against time

1.99

1.98

1.97

1.96
Log H

1.95

1.94

1.93
y = -0.0001x + 1.9833
1.92 R² = 0.9988
1.91
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Time in Seconds

𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐻1 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐻2
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 = = −0.0001
𝑡2 − 𝑡1

2.3026 × 95 × 116
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝐾 = × 0.0001
8494.87

𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝐾 = 2.99 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚/𝑠

Discussion

Permeability is a very important engineering property of soils. Knowledge of permeability is essential in

a number of soil engineering problems: -

- To determine the amount of seepage through and beneath earth structures.

- To control seepage velocities such that fine particles of soil mass not eroded.
- Rate of settlement (consolidation) studies.
- The permeability of soils is also required in design of filters used to prevent piping in hydraulic
structures.

The soil being tested has a coefficient of permeability of 2.99 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚/𝑠. This indicates that the soil
has very low permeability. Soils with low permeability are ideal for dam and pond construction

Assumptions made in the application of Darcy’s law in the data analysis: -

- We assume that the soil is fully saturated which means all the voids are completely filled with
water.
- We assume that the flow is laminar inside the voids.

Sources of error in the experiment include;

- Improper reading of the graduated ruler due to parallax.

- Lack of synchrony between the time and height readings.
- Over-compaction of the soil sample.

Conclusion

In summary, the soil sample was found to have a coefficient of permeability of 2.99 × 10−5 𝑐𝑚/𝑠. This
indicates that the soil has very low permeability.

References

- Principles of Geotechnical engineering by Braja M. Das.

- University of Nairobi Soil Mechanics Lab manual.