Permeability and Seepage

Course Code: CE 1115

Course Title: Permeability and Seepage
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture: 4

Presented by:
Md. Tanvir Ahmed
Lecturer
Dept. of Civil Engineering
World University of Bangladesh
 Permeability and Seepage

Outline of the lecture:

 Mathematical Problems on soil properties.

 Permeability and Seepage
Functional Relationships:
 ϒ s = G ϒw Here,
G. w
 e= w = moisture content
G = Specific gravity
e = Void ratio
G ϒw ϒ = Bulk unit weight
 ϒd = 1+e ϒd = Dry unit weight
ϒs = Unit weight of solids
ϒ ϒw = Unit weight of water
 ϒd = 1+w ϒsat = Saturated unit weight
ϒ´ = Submerged unit weight
(G +e) ϒw = Degree of saturation
 ϒsat = 1+e

 ϒ´ = ϒsat - ϒw
 Permeability and Seepage
 PROBLEM:
A soil sample has a porosity of 40%.The specific gravity of solid is 2.70.
Find out-
1) Void ratio.
2) Dry density
3) Unit weight if soil is 50% saturated
4) Unit weight if the soil is completely saturated.
1. SOLUTION:
We know,
e= Here, n = 40% = 0.4

=
= 0.67
(Answer)
 Permeability and Seepage
2. SOLUTION:
We know,

ϒd = ɣD = Here, G = 2.70
= e = 0.67
= 15.84 kN/m3
(Answer)
3. SOLUTION: Unit weight if soil is 50% saturated
We know, Here,
ɣ = ɣD ( 1 + w) ɣD = 15.84 KN/m3

ϒd = = Sr = 50% = 0.50

e= =
w= = 17.80 kN/m3
( Answer)
 Permeability and Seepage
4. SOLUTION: Unit weight if the soil is completely saturated.

We know, Here,
ɣ = ɣD ( 1 + w) Sr = 1
ϒd =

=
e=
w=
=
= 19.80 kN/m3
( Answer)
 Permeability and Seepage
 PROBLEM:
A soil has a bulk unit weight of 20.11 KN/m3 and water content is 15%. Calculate the
water content if the soil partially dries to a unit weight of 19.42 KN/m3 and the void
ratio remains unchanged.
SOLUTION:
We know, Here,
(For 1st case ) ɣ = 20.11 KN/m 3
ɣD = w = 15% =0.15
=
= 17.48 KN/m3
(For 2nd case ) Here,
ɣD = ɣ = 19.42 KN/m 3
=> 17.48 = ɣ D = 17.48 KN/m3
=> 1 + w =
=> w = 0.11
=> w = 11%
(Answer)
 Permeability and Seepage
 PROBLEM:
Determine the maximum possible void ratio for a uniformly graded sand of perfectly
spherical grains.
 
SOLUTION:
The soil will have maximum possible void when it’s grains are arranged in a cubical
array of spheres.
Consider, a unit cube of soil having spherical particles of diameter ‘d’.
Volume of each spherical particle = (π/6 )d3
Total volume of container = 1 = 1
No of solids in the container =1/d x 1/d x 1/d = 1/d 3
Total volume of solids , vs = (π/6 )d3 1/d3 = π/6
Volume of voids , Vv = 1 - π/6
Void ratio , e = = = 0.91
Porosity ,n = = = 0.476 = 47.6%
(Answer)
 Permeability and Seepage
 PROBLEM:
The unit weight of a sand backfill was determined by field measured to be 1746 Kg/cm3. The
water content at the time of test was 8.6% and the unit weight of the solid constituents was
2.6 gm per cm3. In the laboratory test the void ratio in the loosest and densest states were
found to be 0.642 and 0.462 respectively. What was the relative density of the sand fill?
 SOLUTION: G=
We know, G=
ɣb = Here,
w = 8.6% = 0.086
=> 1.746 = ɣb = 1746 kg/ cm3
e = 0.62 =1746/1000 gm/ cm3
= 1.746 gm/cm3
ID = emax = 0.642
emin = 0.462
= ID = ?
= 13.88%. (Answer). ɣ w = 1 gm/ cm3
=
 Permeability and Seepage
 PROBLEM:
A soil sample whose water content is 20%, has a bulk density of 2.16 gm/cc. The sample
undergoes air drying with significant change in void ratio. What is the water content of this
sample when its bulk density is reduced to 2.0 gm/cc.
SOLUTION:
We know,
ɣb = Here , w = 20% = 0.2
=> 2.16 = ɣb = 2.16 gm/cc
=> = 1.8
 
After drying –
 
ɣb = Here ,
=> 2 = 1.8 ( 1 + w ) ɣ b = 2.0 gm/cc
=> W = 0.11 = 11%
(Answer)
Permeability and Seepage

Thank You