Permeability Of Soils And Seepage

Analysis
Dr. P. G Gaikwad
 Permeability Of Soils And Seepage
Analysis
• Darcy’s law, validity of Darcy’s law. Determination
of coefficient of permeability, Laboratory
methods: constant head method, falling head
method, Field methods: pumping-in test,
pumping-out test. Permeability of stratified soils,
factors affecting permeability of soil.
• Seepage analysis- Introduction, flow lines and
potential lines, characteristics of flow nets,
graphical method to plot flow nets, use of flow
nets.
 Soil water
• Capillarity in soils. Quick sand condition.
Permeability of soils. Determination of
coefficient of permeability in lab and field.
Permeability of stratified soils. Introduction to
seepage analysis. Effective stress principle
• Self study: Flow nets.
Soil water & Free water
Held Water
Flow of water Through Soil
 Importance of Permeability & Seepage analysis

4 Groundwater flow towards wells and drainage of soil.

 Darcy’s Law
• Darcy investigated the flow of water through beds of permeable sand
and found that the flow rate through porous media is proportional to
the head loss and inversely proportional to the length of the flow
path.

• Darcy derived equation of governing ground water flow and defined

hydraulic conductivity K:
V = Q/A
where:
A is the cross-sectional area
V  -∆h, and
V  1/∆L
 True flow paths

Linear flow paths

assumed in Darcy’s law

Average linear velocity

Specific discharge
v = Q/An= q/n
q = Q/A
n = effective porosity

Figure from Hornberger et al. (1998)

 Types of velocity
• Approach Velocity or Superficial Velocity or
Fictitious (Not real or true) Velocity or Darcy
Velocity.

• Actual Velocity or Seepage Velocity or Average

effective velocity.
 Darcy & Seepage Velocity
• Darcy velocity is a fictitious velocity since it assumes that
flow occurs across the entire cross-section of the soil
sample. Flow actually takes place only through
interconnected pore channels.

Av voids
A = total area
 Darcy & Seepage Velocity
• From the Continuity Eqn:
• Q = A vD = AV Vs
Where:
Q = flow rate
A = total cross-sectional area of material
AV = area of voids
Vs = seepage velocity (Actual Velocity or Average effective
velocity)
VD = Darcy Velocity {Approach Velocity or Superficial
Velocity or Fictitious (Not real or true) Velocity }
 Darcy & Seepage Velocity
• Q = A vD = AV Vs
• Therefore: VS = VD ( A/AV)

• Multiplying both Numerator & Denominator by the length

of the medium (L)
VS = VD ( AL / AVL ) = VD ( VT / VV )
• Where:
VT = total volume
VV = void volume

• By Definition, Vv / VT = n, the soil porosity

• Thus VS = VD / n
 Coefficient of percolation
By Definition, Vv / VT = n, the soil porosity
𝑉𝑠 = 𝑉𝐷 𝑛
V = ki
Substitute for VD

𝑉𝑠 = 𝑘𝑖 𝑛

𝑘
𝑉𝑠 = 𝑖
𝑛

𝑉𝑠 = 𝑘𝑝 𝑖
Where kp constant of proportionality is called as Coefficient of Percolation

𝑘𝑝 = 𝑘 𝑛
Factors affecting Permeability
Different Methods for the Determination
of Permeability of a Soil
Indirect Methods for the Determination of
Permeability
Laboratory Methods for the
Determination of Permeability
Constant Head Permeability Test
Falling head
permeability Test
 Field Methods for the Determination of
Permeability
1.Pumping out Test
2. Pumping in Test.
Pumping out Test for the Determination of
Permeability
Expression for Steady state flow to Unconfined
Aquifer
OR
Pumping out Test in Unconfined Aquifer
 Expression for Steady state flow to
Confined Aquifer
OR
Pumping out Test in Confined Aquifer
Field Methods for the Determination of
Permeability
Permeability of Layered Soil
• Numerical on Permeability