Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity

• The hydraulic conductivity (K) is a hydro-geologic

property and depends upon the porous medium and the
flowing fluid.

• Methods for measurement of hydraulic conductivity are

classified as:

1. Laboratory Measurements

2. Insitu Field Measurements (Aquifer Tests)

3. Field Estimations
 Laboratory Measurements
• Hydraulic conductivity can be determined in a laboratory using
an apparatus called permeameter. Two types of permeameter
i.e. constant head and falling head are used.
• The hydraulic conductivity can be measured in a laboratory
using disturbed or undisturbed samples. However, these
methods are usually restricted to hydraulic conductivity
determined near the ground surface and as such may not be
representative for the aquifer materials.

• Problems
not representative of large rock mass
disturbed samples
orientation of sample
Insitu Field Measurements
• Various techniques used for insitu field measurement of hydraulic
conductivity include are auger hole method, pump-out method and pump-in
method.
• The pump-in method is used for unsaturated zone above the water table.

Field Estimation
• The hydraulic conductivity values are estimated from grain‑size analysis
(grain‑size distribution curves) and can be calculated by using empirical
formulas such as: Hazen formula, USBR Formula, Terzaghi Formula,
Kozeny Formula, Slichter Formula or Zamarin Formula.

• These formulas require some or all of the following input parameters:

Effective grain size or total grain-size distribution, Temperature of water,
porosity, empirical coefficients.
 Comparison of Field Measurement
• A variety of methods for measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity are
available.
• Dorsey et al. (1990) compared four field methods that are commonly
employed for near-surface measurements.
• These included the Guelph permeameter, the velocity permeameter, a
pumping test procedure, and the auger hole method.
• They found that the Guelph permeameter produced significantly lower
estimates than the other methods. They indicated that if the instrument is to
be used on heavy clay soils, the procedure and equipment would need to be
modified. The other three methods produced comparable results.
• Dorsey et al (1990) suggested that selection of the best methods for a specific
application is dependent upon the soil water conditions.
• Probably the simplest and most widely used method for saturated hydraulic
conductivity in the presence of a water table is the auger hole method.

Dorsey, J.D., Ward, A. D., Fausey, N. R. and Bair, E. S. (1990). A comparison of

four field methods for measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity. Trans. Am. Soc.
Agric. Eng. 33(6): 1925-1931.
The flow is in steady state. Constant head Permeameter
Apply Darcy’s Law to find K:
Q = V/t

Continuous Flow
Q = KA(h/L)
Equating
K = (VL) / (A t h)
Where:
V = water volume flowing in time t
A = cross-sectional area of the sample
L = length of sample
h = constant head
t = time of flow

• At the beginning of the test, at least two measurements V1 and V2 should be made
during time periods t1 and t2 in order to check that the flow reached the steady
state, when V1/t1 = V2/t2 = Constant
• These permeameters are suitable for measuring K of high permeable materials
like sands and gravels.
• The test is conducted on saturated samples (using distilled water) and saturated
 Falling Head Permeameter
For the falling head permeameter, the volume rate of flow Q can be expressed on
the basis of the rate of fall dh/dt of the water level in the narrow stand pipe.
The flow of water is of the transient type in this permeameter.

For standpipe dh
Q  a
dt
For sample h
Q  K A
L
Equating the two expressions for Q,
integrating and solving for K
h2 t
a 1
 L  dh  K  dt
A h1 h 0

a L h1
K  ln
A t h2
Falling head permeamters are used for materials of relatively low hydraulic conductivity.