Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies

Department: Department of Civil Engineering

Title: U02- Falling Head Amendment Feb
Permeability Test Date: 2024

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this experiment, students should be able to:

• Describe the general accepted practice to determine the coefficient of
permeability of silts and clays.
• Identify the relationship between permeability and pore size of the fine-grained
soils.
• Measure the coefficient of permeability of silts and clays.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The falling head permeability test involves flow of water through a relatively short soil
sample connected to a standpipe which provides the water head and also allows measuring
the volume of water passing through the sample. The diameter of the standpipe depends
on the permeability of the tested soil. The test can be carried out in a Falling Head
permeability cell or in an oedometer cell.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this experiment are to determine permeability of soils of intermediate

and low permeability (less than 10-4 m/s), i.e. silts and clays.

1.3 THEORY

In the falling head test a relatively short sample is connected to a standpipe which provides
both the head of water and the means of measuring the quantity of water flowing through
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 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies
Department: Department of Civil Engineering
Title: U02- Falling Head Amendment Feb
Permeability Test Date: 2024

the sample. Several standpipes of different diameters are normally available from which
can be selected the diameter most suitable for the type of material being tested.

In permeability tests on clays, much higher hydraulic gradients than are normally used
with sands can be applied and are often necessary to induce any measurable flow. The
cohesion of clays provides resistance to failure by piping at gradients of up to several
hundred, even under quite low confining or surcharge pressures. Dispersive clays however
are very susceptible to erosion at much lower gradient.

The falling head principle can be applied to an undisturbed sample in a sampling tube and
to a sample in an oedometer consolidation cell. The equations used in determine the
permeability of fine-grained soils is given in Equation (1).
aL h 
Permeability, k = loge  1  ………..Equation (1)
A(t 2 − t1 )  h2 

The time difference (t2-t1) can be expressed as the elapsed time, t (minutes). The heights
h1 and h2 and the length, L are expressed in millimeters, and the areas A and a in square
millimeters. Equation (1) then becomes Equation (2).

aL h 
Permeability, k = loge  1 (mm / s ) ………..Equation (2)
Ax60t  h2 

To convert natural logarithms to ordinary (base 10) logarithms, multiply by 2.303. If k is

expressed in m/s, the above equation becomes Equation (3).

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 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies
Department: Department of Civil Engineering
Title: U02- Falling Head Amendment Feb
Permeability Test Date: 2024

2.303aL h 
Permeability, k = log10  1 (m / s ) ………..Equation (3)
1000xAx60t  h2 

Where: a = area of cross-section of standpipe tube,

A = area of cross section of sample
h1 = heights of water above datum in standpipe at time t1
h2 = heights of water above datum in standpipe at time t2
L = heights of sample
t = elapsed time in minutes

1.4 APPARATUS

1. Permeameter cell, comprising:

i. Cell body, with cutting edge (core cutter), 100 mm diameter and 130 mm long.
ii. Perforated base plate with straining rods and wing nuts.
iii. Top clamping plate.
iv. Connecting tube and fittings.

Figure 1: Compaction permeameter

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 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies
Department: Department of Civil Engineering
Title: U02- Falling Head Amendment Feb
Permeability Test Date: 2024

1.5 PROCEDURES

1. Assemble apparatus,

a. The apparatus is set up as shown in Figure 2. The volume of water passing

through a sample of low permeability is quite small and a continuous
supply of de-aired water is not necessary, but the reservoir supplying the
de-airing tank should be filled with distilled or de-ionized water.

2. Calibrate manometer tubes,

a. The areas of cross-section of the three manometer tubes should be

determined as follows for each tube:

i. Fill the tube with water up to a known mark near the top of the
scale, observed to the nearest mm,

ii. Runoff water from the tube into a weighted beaker, until the level
in the tube has fallen by about 500mm or more,

iii. Read the new water level on the scale, to the nearest mm,

iv. Weigh the beaker containing water from the tube (weighing
should be to the nearest 0.01g)

v. The diameter of the manometer can be calculated as follows:

1000m w
diameter, a = mm2
h1 − h2

Where, mw = mass of water (g), h1 = initial level in tube (mm), h2

= final level in tube (mm), and A = area of cross-section of tube
(mm2)
vi. Repeat the measurements two or three times for each tube, and
average the results.

3. Prepare cell,
a. Dismantle the cell,
b. Check the cell body is clean and dry, and weigh it to the nearest 0.1g,
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 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies
Department: Department of Civil Engineering
Title: U02- Falling Head Amendment Feb
Permeability Test Date: 2024

c. Measure the mean internal diameter (D) and length (L) to the nearest
0.5mm
4. Prepare sample,
a. Undisturbed sample can be taken by means of core cutter.
b. Make sure that the sample is a tight fit in the body and there are no cavities
around the perimeter through which water could pass,
5. Assemble cell
6. Connect cell
7. Saturate and de-air sample
8. Fill manometer system
9. Run test
a. Open screw clip at inlet to allow water to flow down through the sample,
and observe the water level in the standpipe,
b. As soon as it reaches the level h1, start the timer clock,
c. Observe and record the time when the level reaches h3, and when it
reaches h2, then stop the clock,
d. Close screw clip at inlet
10. Repeat test
11. Calculate permeability
12. Report result

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 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies
Department: Department of Civil Engineering
Title: U02- Falling Head Amendment Feb
Permeability Test Date: 2024

Figure 2: Falling head permeability cell with manometer tubes

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 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies
Department: Department of Civil Engineering
Title: U02- Falling Head Amendment Feb
Permeability Test Date: 2024

1.6 RESULTS AND DATA ANALYSIS (calculation)

Falling Head Permeability test

Location: Sample no:
Operator: Date:

Soil description:
Method of
preparation:

Sample diameter, D: mm Sample length, L: mm

Sample area, A: mm 2 Sample volume, V: cm 3
Mass of mould: g Mass of sample+mould: g
Mass of sample: g

S.G. measured/assumed: Voids ratio:

Bulk density, : kN/m 3 Dry density, : kN/m 3
Mositure content: % Test temperature: c

Standpipe diameter: mm Standpipe area, a: mm2

Reading:
Reference Height above Height above Test
point datum, y outlet, h No. Time, t Height ratios
(mm) (mm) (min)

Calculations:

2.303aL h 
Permeability, k = log10  1 (m / s )
1000xAx60t  h2 
=
APPROVED BY

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 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies
Department: Department of Civil Engineering
Title: U02- Falling Head Amendment Feb
Permeability Test Date: 2024

1.7 DISCUSSIONS
Discuss the results obtained from this testing.

1.8 QUESTIONS

1. Determine the coefficient of permeability for the given sample of soil.

2. Differentiate between falling head and constant head permeability test.
3. Identify the importance of permeability in the construction site.

1.9 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

State your conclusion and recommendations for this test.