4.

0 Results Analysis
4.1 Calculation and tabulations of results for fine grained soils (Falling head
test)
4.1.1 Data collection

Table 1 Tabulation of results

H/mm Elapsed time, t Correction/mm Corrected Rate (H1/H2)

/min Height( H +
386)/mm

1000 0 386 1386 0

950 15 386 1336 1.0374

906 30 386 1292 1.0341

864 45 386 1250 1.0336

826 60 386 1212 1.0313

792 75 386 1178 1.0289

758 90 386 1144 1.0297

726 105 386 1112 1.0288

695 120 386 1081 1.0287

665 135 386 1051 1.0285

Table 2 Tabulation of recorded parameters

Diameter of standpipe /mm 6

Diameter of mould /mm 105

Depth of cylinder /mm 115
4.1.2 Data Analysis
Stating with Darcy’s law,
q = Aki--------- ① , where i = H/L
If the level in the standpipe falls dh in time dt, then
dH
q = -a ---------②
dt
Equating equation 1 and 2,
Aki dt
L
= -a dH

−aL
dt = AkH dH
t H2

∫ dt = −aL ∫ 1
Ak H 1 h
dH
0

−aL H 1
t = Ak ln H 2
aL H1
t = Ak ln H 2
aL H 1
k = At ln H 2
aL H1
k = 2.3 At log10 H 2

Where,

K – coefficient of permeability.

a – area of standpipe.

A – area of the sample.

L – depth of the sample.

H1 – initial height of water

H2 – final height of water

t – time taken to get head drop ( t1 – t2)

For steady condition,

H1 H2
ln = ln
H2 H3

H1 H2
=
H2 H3

Therefore, H2 = √ H 1 H3

The area of the standpipe and area of the sample are calculated using the following formula,

A = πD2 /4

Table 3 Tabulation of values for the calculation of the coefficient of permeability

H1 /mm 1081
H2 /mm 1051
Area of standpipe, a /mm2 28.3
Area of the sample, A /mm2 8659
Depth of the sample, L /mm 115
Time, t /s 900

Hence using the equation derived above,

Coefficient of permeability, k = 2.7 × 10-5 mm/s

= 2.7 × 10-8 m/s

 4.2 Calculations and tabulations of results for coarse grained soils(Constant
head test)
4.2.1 Data collection

Table 4 Tabulation of recorded values

Internal diameter of mould /mm 76.1

Length of flow path through soil between pressure head 1 and 70
2 /mm
Length of flow path through soil between pressure head 2 and 30
3 /mm
Area of the sample /mm2 4548.4

4.2.2 Data analysis

Assuming Darcy’s law to apply for flow of water through the soil,
Q H
=KA
t L
QL
K=
AHt
Where,
Q: quantity of water flowing in time t

K: coefficient of permeability for the soil

A: area of cross-section through which water flows

H: hydraulic head across soil

A: area of cross-section through which water flows

L: length of flow path through soil.

 Experiment 1

Table 5 Determination of the volume of water

Time, t /s 30 30

Mass of dry beaker /g 278.0 278.0

Mass of water + beaker / g 460.5 459.6

Mass of water/g 182.5 181.6 Average

Volume of water, Q1 × 10-4 / m3 1.83 1.82 1.825

Table 6 Tabulation of the manometer reading

H1 /mm 443
H2 /mm 421
H3 /mm 413

Table 7 Determination of the coefficient of permeability

Length, L of flow Hydraulic head, Coefficient of

path through soil / H /mm permeability ,k1
mm /m/s

Between pressure head 1 and 70 22 4.26 × 10-3

2

Between pressure head 2 and 20 8 3.34 × 10-3

3
Between pressure head 1 and 100 30 4.45 × 10-3
3

4.26 ×10−3 ×3.34 × 10−3 × 4.45× 10−3

Average K1 =
3

= 4.02 × 10-3 m/s

Experiment 2

Table 8 Determination of volume of water

Time, t /s 30 30

Mass of dry beaker /g 278.0 278.0

Mass of water + beaker / g 467.7 468.35

Mass of water/g 189.7 190.4 Average

Volume of water, Q2 × 10-4 / m3 1.90 1.90 1.90

Table 9 Tabulation of the manometer readings

H1 /mm 318
H2 /mm 295
H3 /mm 285

Table 10 Determination of the coefficient of permeability

Length, L of flow Hydraulic head, Coefficient of

path through soil / H /mm permeability ,K2
mm /m/s

Between pressure head 1 and 70 23 4.24 × 10-3

2
Between pressure head 2 and 20 10 2.79 × 10-3
3

Between pressure head 1 and 100 33 4.22 × 10-3

3

4.24 × 10−3 ×2.79 ×10−3 × 4.22× 10−3

Average K2 =
3

= 3.75 × 10-3 m/s

Hence, Average value of the coefficient of permeability, K = (K1 + K2) / 2

= (4.02 × 10-3 + 3.75 ×10-3) / 2

= 3.90 × 10-3 m/s

4.3 Discussion
The average values for the coefficient of permeability, K can be used to classify various soils and
also indicates potential drainage conditions as illustrated on figure below. The degree of
permeability can also be deduced based on the values of the coefficient of permeability ranges as
shown on the table below.
 Figure 1 Coefficient of permeability of various soil

Table 11 Degree of permeability

Degree of permeability values of K / m/s

High Over 10-3

Medium 10-3 - 10-5

Low 10-5 - 10-7

Very low 10-7 - 10-9

Practically impermeable Over 10-9 m/s.

Based on the experimental results:

 For the Falling head test (fine grained soil), the value obtained for the coefficient of
permeability is 2.7 × 10-8 m/s. This value was calculated using the formula k = 2.3
aL H1
log10 . Using the table above, the permeability of the soil sample provided is very
At H2
 low. This very low permeability is because the porosity of sand and gravel is high and
water can flow with less resistance. According to the figure above, the soil is classified as
unfissured clay and clay silts and is suitable for drainage system.
 For the constant head test (coarse grained soil) , the average value of the coefficient of
permeability is 3.90 × 10-3 m/s. This value lies in the range 10-3 – 10-5 and hence the
permeability of the soil sample is medium. The soil is classified as clean sand and sand
and gravel mixtures.

Inc, S. (2016) Constant & falling head Permeability test. Available at:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/177195380/Constant-Falling-Head-Permeability-Test (Accessed: 3
December 2016).