Departm
ment of Civiil and Enviironmental Engineerin
ng
CivE
E 381 Soil M
Mechanics

LAB NO.
N 2: PER
RMEABILIITY

PURPO
OSE

To determ
mine the coeffficient of peermeability off a uniform saand using thee constant head permeabillity test and to
t
observe tthe conditionss under whichh seepage failure occurs.

THEOR
RY

The funddamental pro

operty that innfluences fluuid flow in soils
s is perm
meability (alsso hydraulic conductivityy)
(Lambe aand Whitmann, 1979). Bow
wles (1992) defines
d permeeability as a constant
c of prroportionalityy related to th
he
ous media. Soil permeabiility in the laaboratory cann be measured
ease withh which a fluuid passes thhrough a poro
using thee constant heaad test for higgher permeable soils (i.e. sands
s and graavels) or the variable
v headd test for loweer
permeabiility soils (i.ee. silts). A scchematic of both
b test appparatus is sho
own in Figurre 1. This exxperiment willl
focus on the constant head test.

In one dim
mension, watter flows throough a fully saturated
s soil in accordancce with Darcy
y's empirical law:
l

v  ki (1)
The correesponding floow rate (or quuantity per un
nit time) is:

q  kiA (2)

Where:
v = dischargee velocity (cm
m/s)
k = coefficiennt of permeabbility (cm/s)
i = hydraulic gradient (dim
mensionless parameter)
p
2
A = cross-secctional area off soil mass thhrough whichh fluid flow taakes place (cm
m )

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 (a) (b
b)

Figu
ure 1 Laboraatory permeaability tests: (a) constantt head, (b) falling head

Coefficieent of Permeeability

The coeffficient of peermeability deepends primaarily on the average

a size of pores (vo
oid ratio), whhich in turn is
i
related too particle sizee distribution, particle shap
pe and soil sttructure. In general, the sm
maller the parrticle sizes th
he
smaller iis the averagge size of poores resulting
g in lower cooefficient of permeabilityy. Typical vaalues of k foor
different types of soilss are shown in
i Table 1.

The coeffficient of peermeability also

a varies with
w temperatture, which effects
e the viscosity
v of the
t pore fluid
(usually water). As the temperaature increasses, the visccosity of waater decreasees and the coefficient
c o
of
o
permeabiility increasees. The coeffficient of permeability
p is standardiised to 20 C,
C and the coefficient
c o
of

permeabiility at any temperature (T

T) is related to
o k20 by the following:
f

ηT
k20 =kT (3)
η20

Where:
o
k20 = coefficiient of permeeability standaardised at 20 C
kT = coefficieent of permeaability at temp
perature TηT = viscosity
of fluid at
a temperaturee T
o
η20 = = viscossity of fluid at
a 20 C

Table 2 ssummarises thhe  T /  20 viscosity ratiios that are ussed to calculaate k20.

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 Table 1 Coefficientt of permeab
bility (cm/s) for
f various soils
s (modifieed from Craiig, 1992)

Tablle 2  T /  200 Viscosity raatio at various temperatu

ures (after Al-Khafaji
A an
nd Anderslan
nd, 1992)

C 0 0.1 0
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.99
1
10 1.3012 1.2976 1.22940 1.2903 1.2867 1..2831 1.2795 1.2759 1.2722 1.26886
1
11 1.2650 1.2615 1.22580 1.2545 1.2510 1..2476 1.2441 1.2406 1.2371 1.23336
1
12 1.2301 1.2268 1.22234 1.2201 1.2168 1..2135 1.2101 1.2068 1.2035 1.20001
1
13 1.1968 1.1936 1.11905 1.1873 1.1841 1..1810 1.17777 1.1746 1.1714 1.16883
1
14 1.1651 1.1621 1.11590 1.1560 1.1529 1..1499 1.14699 1.1438 1.1408 1.13777
1
15 1.1347 1.1318 1.11289 1.1260 1.1231 1..1202 1.11722 1.1143 1.1114 1.10885
1
16 1.1056 1.1028 1.00999 1.0971 1.0943 1..0915 1.08877 1.0859 1.0803 1.08002
1
17 1.0774 1.0747 1.00720 1.0693 1.0667 1..0640 1.06133 1.0586 1.0560 1.05333
1
18 1.0507 1.0480 1.00454 1.0429 1.0403 1..0377 1.0351 1.0325 1.0300 1.02774
1
19 1.0248 1.0223 1.00198 1.0174 1.0149 1..0124 1.00999 1.0074 1.0050 1.00225
2
20 1.0000 0.9976 0.99952 0.9928 0.9904 0..9881 0.98577 0.9833 0.9809
0 0.97885
2
21 0.9761 0.9738 0.99715 0.9692 0.9969 0..9646 0.96233 0.9600 0.9577
0 0.95554
2
22 0.9531 0.9509 0.99487 0.9465 0.9443 0..9421 0.93999 0.9377 0.9355
0 0.93333
2
23 0.9311 0.9290 0.99268 0.9247 0.9225 0..9204 0.91833 0.9161 0.9140
0 0.91888
2
24 0.9097 0.9077 0.99056 0.9036 0.9015 0..8995 0.8975 0.8954 0.8934
0 0.8913
2
25 0.8893 0.8873 0.88853 0.8833 0.8813 0..8794 0.87744 0.8754 0.8734
0 0.8714
2
26 0.8694 0.8675 0.88656 0.8636 0.8617 0..8598 0.85799 0.8560 0.8540
0 0.85221
2
27 0.8502 0.8484 0.88465 0.8447 0.8428 0..8410 0.83922 0.8373 0.8355
0 0.83336
2
28 0.8318 0.8300 0.88282 0.8264 0.8246 0..8229 0.8211 0.8193 0.8175
0 0.81557
2
29 0.8139 0.8122 0.88105 0.8087 0.8070 0..8053 0.80366 0.8019 0.8001
0 0.79884
3
30 0.7967 0.7950 0.77934 0.7917 0.7901 0..7884 0.78677 0.7851 0.7834
0 0.7818

Hydraullic Gradient

Accordinng to Darcy's Law, the quuantity of flu

uid flow is prroportional to
o the hydraullic gradient. T
The hydrauliic

gradient (i) is defined d ( H ) acrooss a flow paath of length (L). Hydraulic gradient is
d as the loss of total head i
expressedd as:

H
i (4)
L

Fluid willl flow only if there is a total

t head ch
hange across a flow path. In other words, water floows down th
he
gh total head to low total head. A grapphical illustraation of hydrraulic gradiennt is shown in
energy liine; from hig
Figure 2.

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 Lj = length of flow path

i = Hydraulic gradient

i1-4 = gradient across entire sample

= (H1-H4)/L1

i2-3 = gradient between standpipes

= (H2-H3)/L2

Figure 2 Graphical illustration of hydraulic gradient

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PROCEDURES

Each group should familiarise themselves with the constant head test equipment. The permeameter has been
filled with 1000 g of uniform sand and the system saturated. The constant head test will be conducted for both
downward and upward flow.
1. Measure the height of the soil sample between the wire meshes. Take 3 measurements around the
sample and the average value is taken as the length of the flow path (L).
2. Measure the elevation of the two manometer ports (E1, E2) from the countertop and determined the
distance between manometer ports 1-2 (L1-2). This is illustrated in Figure 3.

L
L1-2
E2
1

E1
Countertop

Figure 3 Elevation of manometer ports and lengths of flow paths

3. For measurement of permeability in the downward direction, attach the constant head water supply line
to the top port as shown in Figure 4. Water will flow downward through the soil, out of the bottom
discharge port and into the sink.
4. Adjust the supply of water to the constant head source to establish steady state flow (i.e. the water level
in the constant head source remains constant). Measure the elevation of the constant head source from
the countertop and record this value as H3.
5. Measure the time it takes for a volume of water to flow into a graduated cylinder. Obtain at least 3
readings for verification and repeatability of results.
6. Measure and record the temperature of the discharge.
7. Record the water levels in the four standpipes (H1, H2) and measure the elevation of the discharge head
(H4).
8. Plot the calculated velocity versus hydraulic gradient across the entire sample as the laboratory

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 proceeds.
9. Repeat downward flow for two more times by decreasing total constant heads (moving down the
constant head source).
10. For measurement of permeability in the upward direction, attach the constant head water supply to the
bottom port as illustrated in Figure 5.
11. Start the test for flow in the upward direction with a total hydraulic gradient of about 0.6, 0.8 and 1.
Record the location and occurrence of boiling or quick sand condition.

Constant Head

H3

H2

H1

Counter top H4

Sink

Figure 4 Schematic of permeability test for downward flow

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 q Constant Head

H3

H4 H1

H2

Counter top

Sink

Figure 5 Schematic of permeability test for upward flow

NOTE

Elevation of the manometer ports should always be taken to the center of the port.
When attaching the water outflow line to the permeameter ports, be careful not to introduce air into the
system.
For the upward flow experiment, ensure that the water level in the manometers is sufficiently lowered so as
not to cause high gradients within the sample or seepage failure will result before the experiment begins.

All head measurements are taken from the counter top.

CALCULATIONS

1. Calculate the volume flow rate

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 V
q
t
Where:
3
q = volume flow rate (cm /s)
3
V = volume of water (cm )
t = time (s)

2. Calculate the discharge velocity

q
v
A
Where:
v = discharge velocity (cm/s)
3
q = volume flow rate (cm /s)
2
A = cross-sectional area of sample (cm )

3. Plot discharge velocity versus hydraulic gradient. The slope of the best fit line is given as the coefficient
of permeability
v
k
i
Where:
k = coefficient of permeability (cm/s)
o
4. Calculate the coefficient of permeability corrected for temperature at 20 C.

ηT
k20 =kT
η20

Where:
o
k20 = coefficient of permeability standardised at 20 C
kT = coefficient of permeability at temperature T
ηT = viscosity of fluid at temperature T
o
η20 = viscosity of fluid at 20 C

5. Calculate the hydraulic gradient across the entire sample and compare with the hydraulic gradients
calculated between manometers 1-2.

6. Calculate the theoretical hydraulic gradient at which boiling failure occurs and compare this with the
measured value.

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Discuss the above results paying particular attention to the concepts of gradient, head change across the sample
and variability of measured values from anticipated results based on theory.

REFERENCES

th
Bowles, J. E. 1992. Engineering properties of soils and their measurements, 4 Edition, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
th
Craig, R. F. 1992. Soil mechanics, 5 Edition, Chapman and Hall.

Hazen, A. 1892. Physical properties of sands and gravels with reference to their use in filtration. Rept. Mass.
State Board of Health.
Lambe, T. W., and Whitman, R. V. 1979. Soil mechanics, SI Version, John Wiley & Sons, 19: pp. 281 - 295.
Terzaghi, K., and Peck, R. B. 1967. Soil mechanics in engineering practice, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons,
New York, NY.

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 DATA SHEET: PERMEABILITY

Description of soil ___________________________________________________________________

Location __________________________________________________________________________
Tested by ___________________________________ Date of test _______________________

Sample Dimensions:

2
Sample lengths (cm) _________________________ Area (cm ) ________________________
3
Avg. soil sample length, L (cm) ________________ Vol. (cm ) ________________________
3
Diameter (cm) _______________________________ Density, ρ (g/cm ) _________________
Mass sample (g) _____________________________ Specific Gravity, Gs _________________

E1 (cm) ____________________________________ L1-2 (cm) ________________________

E2 (cm) ____________________________________

E1, E2 = elevation of manometer ports from counter top

L1-2 = distance between manometer ports 1 & 2

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 Data sheet for Downward Flow

Discharge Head, H4= _________

Elevation of Head from standpipes

Test
Constant Head Vol. (cm3) Time (s) Q (cm3/s) v (cm/s) i3-4 i1-2
No. H1 (cm) H2 (cm)
H3 (cm)
1
1
1

2
2
3
3
3

i3-4=hydraulic gradient across entire sample

H3 -H4
L

i1-2 = hydraulic gradient across manometer ports 1- 2

H2 -H1
L1‐2

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 Data sheet for Upward Flow

Elevation of Constant Head, H3= ________

Gradient at which seepage failure occurs: _________

Test Discharge Head Head from standpipes Vol.

Anticipated i Time (s) Q (cm3/s) v (cm/s) i3-4 i1-2
No. H4 (cm) H1 (cm) H2 (cm) (cm3)
1 0.6
1 0.6
1 0.6
2 0.8
2 0.8
2 0.8
3 1.0
3 1.0
3 1.0
Failure
i3-4 =hydraulic gradient across entire sample
H3 -H4
L

i1-2 = hydraulic gradient across manometer ports 1- 2

H1 -H2
L1‐2

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P a g e | 13
CivE 381 Soil Mechanics
Hydraulic gradient across entire sample, i