WATER INSTITUTE

DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY AND IRRIGATION ENGINEERING

MODULE NAME: SOIL MECHANICS
MODULE CODE: WST06209
S/N NAME REGISTRATION NUMBER
1 FRIDA JONAS OD/2020/IRE82
2 CHRISHNA FISIMA OD/2020/IRE69
3 ARAPHA KUDRA OD/2020/IRE76
4 SIYALEO ABDALLAH OD/2020/IRE42
5 PROSPER JUSTINE OD/2019/IRE16
6 TUNGU KWILASA OD/2019/IRE24
7 JACOB MWANDEJA OD/2017/IRE87
8 EZEKIEL LUBONDO OD/2020/IRE33
9 TRYPHONE GELARD OD/2018/IRE20
10 ALLY ALLY OD/2020/IRE75
11 BENITHA STEPHEN OD/2020/IRE59
QUESTION.
Estimate permeability and seepages,
i. State Darcy’s law
ii. Determine the coefficient of permeability in the laboratory using
constant head and falling head.
iii. Calculate seepage force in the soil.
iv. Determine the coefficient of permeability in the field.
DARCY’S LAW
State Darcy’s law
Darcy’s law is the law that describes the relationship between the
instantaneous rate of discharge through a porous medium and pressure
drop at a distance. The law was formulated by Henry Darcy based on
the results of experiments on the flow of water through beds of sand,
forming the basis of hydrogeology, a Branch of earth science.
Darcy’s law states that,
The rate of fluid flow through porous medium is proportional to the
potential energy gradient within that fluid.
DARCY’S LAW

The Darcy’s law formula,

Q=
Where by;
• Q = rate of water flow
• K = hydraulic conductivity
• =Cross section area
• = Hydraulic gradient, i
COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY
To Determine the coefficient of permeability in the laboratory using
constant head and falling head.

Constant head
This test is mainly conducted to determine the permeability of the soil.
This involves the apparatus where the same relative elevation of the top
of the water column (head pressure) remains over the sample through
the test.
Objective of the test.
The objective of the constant head permeability test is to determine the
coefficient of permeability of the soil.
COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY
Apparatus for the constant head permeability test;
• Permeability mould, internal diameter of 100mm
• Detachable collar
• Dummy plate
• Drainage base
• Drainage cap
• Compaction equipment
• Constant head water supply reservoir
• Vacuum pump
• Stop watch
• Thermometer
COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY
Procedures for constant head test:
i. Through the top inlet of the constant head reservoir, the specimen is
connected.
ii. The bottom outlet is opened and a steady flow is established
iii. For a particular time interval, the quantity of flow can be collected.
iv. Measure the difference of head (h) in levels between the constant
head reservoir and the outlet in the base.
v. For the same interval, this is repeated three times.
COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY
Falling head.
The falling head permeability test is a common laboratory testing
method used to determine the permeability of the fine grained soils with
intermediate and low permeability such as silt and clays.
Objective of the falling head test
The objective of this test is to determine the permeability of the fine
grained soils.
Apparatus used;
• Permeaneter cell
• Stand pipe
• Timer
• Graduated cylinder
• Thermometer
COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY
Procedure for falling head test:
1. Determine the standpipe area (a). Note that the diameter of the
standpipe depends on the permeability of the tested soil.
2. Locate hl and h2 on the standpipe. Then fill it with distilled water.
3. Allow water to flow down through the sample and observe the water
level in the standpipe. As soon as it reaches the level h1,start the timer
clock.
4. When the level of water in the standpipe reaches h2, stop the clock and
record the time required for the water in the standpipe to drop from h1 to
h2.
5. Refill the standpipe and repeat the test two to three times. Use the same
h1and h2 values and obtain the corresponding elapsed times. Record the
temperature of water (T) for each run.
SEEPAGE FORCE IN THE SOIL
To Calculate seepage force in the soil.
Seepage force is the force applied by the flowing water to the soil
structure.
Or, Seepage force is the force applied to the soil skeleton when the
energy of the flowing water in the soil is transferred to the soil skeleton.
Seepage pressure or seepage force is exerted by the water on the soil
due to friction drag. This drag force/seepage force always act in the
direction of flow.
When the flow of water is in the upward direction the seepage force
tends to lift the soil mass by reducing its effective weight. If the seepage
force exceeds the weight of the soil the resultant force will be acting
upward and soil would become unstable.
 COEFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY IN THE FIELD
To Determine the coefficient of permeability in the field.
The coefficient of permeability is the velocity in meters or centimeters per
second of water through the soil.
Compared to laboratory tests, field permeability test are more reliable. They
give the in situ value of permeability with minimum disturbance. In the
pumping out test, drawdowns, corresponding to a steady discharge q, are
observed at a number of observation wells.

Two types of field tests for determining the coefficient of permeability are:
i. Pumping in test
ii. Pumping out test
 COEFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY IN THE FIELD
i. Pumping in test
The US Bureau of reclamation have devised two methods in this test:
a) Constant water level method.
The test is done by maintaining a constant head by adding clear water through
a measuring device. The required data include the amount of head maintained
during a constant rate of flow into the hole, diameter of the casing, and
elevations of the top and bottom of the casing.
Permeability is computed from the following relation;
k = q/5.5 rh
where k is coefficient of permeability; q the constant rate of flow into the hole;
r the internal radius of casing, and n the differential head of water = gravity
head – head loss due to friction
COEFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY IN THE FIELD
b) Packer method
A packer is an expandable cylindrical rubber sleeve. Packers are used as a
means of sealing of a section borehole. Two types of packer methods are
used.
• Single packer method
In single packer method the hole is drilled to the required depth. The
packer is fixed at a desired level above the bottom of hole and the water
pumped into the section below the packer. The constant rate of flow, q that
is attained under an applied head, H is found.
• Double packer method
In the double packer method, the hole is drilled to the final depth and
cleaned. Two packers are fixed at a distance apart equal to 5 times the
diameter of borehole. Both packers are then expanded and water pumped
into the section between the two packers, the constant rate of flow, q that is
attained under an applied head, H is found.
 COEFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY IN THE FIELD
ii. Pumping out test
This test is divided into two;
• Pumping out test in unconfined aquifer.
For large engineering projects, it is usual practice to measure the
permeability of soils by pumping out tests. The method is extremely useful
for a homogeneous, coarse-grained deposit for which it is difficult to obtain
undisturbed samples.
• Pumping out test in confined aquifer.
COEFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY IN THE FIELD
Indirect Method:
1. Computation Based on Grain Size:
Allen Hazen conducted a large number of tests on filter sands of particle size
between 0.1 mm and 3.0 mm, having a coefficient of uniformity of less than 5,
and gave the following relation;
K=CD
Where
k = coefficient of permeability (cm/sec)
D = effective size (cm)
C = constant with a value between 100 and 150 2 10 10 15/05/2023, 09:14
Page 13 of 16 Start Uploading Your Articles Now. If k and D are taken in
mm/sec and mm respectively, the value of the constant C lies between 10 and
15
COEFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY IN THE FIELD
2. From Consolidation Test Data:
The coefficient of permeability of fine-grained soil can be determined
indirectly from the data obtained from a consolidation test
conducted on the sample. It is given by –
K = C γ mv
Where k = coefficient of permeability (cm/sec)
C = coefficient of consolidation (cm /sec)
γ = unit weight of water (gm/ml)
m = coefficient of volume compressibility (cm /gm)