Determination Of Coefficient Of

Permeability

Capillarity-
Laboratory Indirect Methods permeability Test
Methods Field Methods

Pumping-out Test
Constant-head Computation
Permeability Test From The Particle
Pumping-in Test Size

Variable-head From Consolidation

Permeability Test Test Data
Constant Head Permeability Test
• Quantity of water that flows under a given hydraulic gradient
through a soil sample of known length & cross sectional area in a
given time
• Water is allowed to flow through the cylindrical sample of soil
under a constant head
• For testing of pervious, coarse grained soils
QL
k
Aht
K = Coefficient of permeability
Q = total quantity of water
t = time
L = Length of the coarse soil UCA V
Pumping Out Test (Unconfined Aquifer)

CHP V
Pumping Out Test (Confined Aquifer)

CA V
Variable head permeability test
• Relatively for less permeable soils
• Water flows through the sample from a standpipe attached
to the top of the cylinder.
• The head of water (h) changes with time as flow occurs
through the soil. At different times the head of water is
recorded.

2.30aL h1
k At log 10 h 2
t = time
L = Length of the fine soil
A = cross section area of
soil a= cross section area of
tube
VHP V
K = Coefficient of
Permeability in Stratified Soils

Flow parallel to the plans of stratification

q  kiA
q  k xiH  (k1 H1  k2 H 2 
kn H n )i k1 H1  k2 H 2 
k 
kn H n
x
H

Flow normal to the plans of stratification

Soil Permeability Classes

Permeability is commonly measured

in terms of the rate of water flow
through the soil in a given period of
time.
The discharge of water collected from a constant head permeameter in a period of 15 minutes
is 500 ml. The internal diameter of the permeameter is 5 cm and the measured difference in
head between two gauging points 15 cm vertically apart is 40 cm. Calculate the coefficient of
permeability.
A glass cylinder 5 cm internal diameter and with a screen at the bottom was used as a falling
head permeameter. The thickness of the sample was 10 cm. With the water level in the tube at
the start of the test as 50 cm above the tail water, it dropped by 10 cm in one minute, the tail
water level remaining unchanged. Calculate the value of k for the sample of the soil.
Comment on the nature of the soil.
TOTAL
STRESS

• Generated by the mass in the soil body, calculated by sum up the unit
weight of all the material (soil solids + water) multiflied by soil thickness
or depth.
• Denoted as , v, Po
• The unit weight of soil is in natural condition and the water influence is
ignored.

    t .z
z = The depth of point

Bina Nusantara