SOIL PERMEABILITY

Permeability is a measure of the ease with which water can flow (seep) through a soil. It is
very dependent on the sizes of the pores between the soil particles which in turn depends on
the sizes of the soil particles.

Permeability will only remain constant in a particular soil if the density remains constant.
Soil permeability can be measured in a number of different ways both in the laboratory and in
the field. We are going to look at two laboratory methods for measuring permeability:
For coarse-grained soils we use the Constant Head Permeameter
For fine-grained soils we use Variable (Falling) Head Permeameter

Constant Head Permeability Test

 Falling Head Permeability Test

Darcy’s Law
 q = Aki
 
q = discharge m3/s
A = cross-sectional area (m3)
k = coefficient of permeability (m/s)
I = hydraulic gradient (h/l) h = head of water l = length of sample
 k remains constant while the soil conditions remain constant.

Difference between constant head and falling head tests

The constant head permeability test involves measuring the discharge through a sample of
cross-sectional area A and length, l together with the head loss across the length of the
sample. This is done while maintaining the head of water causing the flow at a constant level.
This test is most suitable for coarse-grained soils with relatively high values of k.
However, for fine-grained soils with low permeability, the length of time required for water
to flow across the sample would be prohibitively long and in this case the head of water (in
the narrow stand-pipe) is falling throughout the test thus requiring the consideration of a
small incremental drop in head in the stand-pipe and the integration of Darcy’s Law over the
time interval t0 to t1.
Constant Head Permeameter test results
Determine the coefficient of permeability, k (ql/Ah)

Discharge (q) = volume of water flowing through sample per second

Volume of water flowing in 1 minute = 135ml 1000mm3 = 1ml
= 135 x 103mm3
Volume of water flowing per second = 135 x 103mm3/60 = 2250mm3/s
From Darcy’s Law q = Aki = Akh/l
→ k = ql/Ah l and h are given in the table and the C.S.A. of
the sample can be determined from the diameter
of the sample
Area = πd2/4 = π1002/4 = 7854mm2
Falling Head Permeameter test results
Determine the coefficient of permeability, k
Because the head of water causing flow through the soil specimen is dropping all the time
during the test (i.e. the urge of the water to flow is reducing all the time) we must integrate
Darcy’s Law for an incremental drop in head in the standpipe over the time interval t0 to t1.
This gives us the following version of Darcy’s Law:

al h
k  2 .3 log 1
A(t 2  t1 ) h2

where k = coefficient of permeability

a = C.S.A. of standpipe
A = C.S.A. of specimen
l = length of specimen
h1 = head at time t1
h2 = head at time t2

The following results were obtained from a falling head permeability test on a sandy silt.
Determine the coefficient of permeability.

Sample length = 140mm

Sample diameter = 70mm
Diameter of standpipe = 6mm
Initial head = 1400mm
Final head = 220mm
Time for head to
fall from 1400 to
220 mm = 1 minute 20s

al h
k  2.3 log 1
A(t 2  t1 ) h2

a = π62/4 = 28.27mm2 l = 140mm A = π702/4 = 3848mm2

t2- t1 = 80s h2- h1 = 1180mm
k = 2.3(28.27 x 140)/(3848 x 80) log(1400/220)
= 0.0296 x log (1400/220)
= 0.0296 x 0.804
= 0.024mm/s
 = 0.000024m/s
= 2.4 x 10-5 m/s

PROBLEM:
(a) In a constant head permeability test the coefficient of permeability was calculated to be
4.8 x 10-6m/s. A falling head test was then carried out on a sample of the same soil. The
diameter of the permeameter was 75mm and its length was 150mm. The diameter of the
standpipe was 5mm. After 3 minutes and 26 seconds the water level in the standpipe had
fallen to 260mm. Determine the initial height of water in the standpipe?  
(b) How long will it now take for the water level in the above falling head permeameter test
to fall from 260mm to 200mm?

SOLUTION:
(a)

al h
k  2.3 log 1
A(t 2  t1 ) h2

a = 52/4
= 19.63mm2 = 19.63 x 10-6m2
 
A = 752/4
= 4418mm2 = 4418 x 10-6m2
 
l = 0.15m

4.8 x 10-6 = 2.3 x19.63 x10-6 x 0.15/(4418 x10-6 x 206) x log(h0/260)

log(h0/260) = 4.8x10-6/7.44 x 10-6
log(h0/260 = 0.645
h0/260 = 4.416
h0 = 1148mm

(b)

al h
k  2. 3 log 1
A(t 2  t1 ) h2
4.8 x 10-6 = 2.3 x19.63 x 10-6 x 0.15/[4418 x10-6(t2 – t1)] x log(260/200)
t2 – t1 = 2.3 x19.63 x 0.15/[4418 x 4.8 x 10-6] x log(260/200)
= 36.4s

Limitations of measuring permeability in the laboratory

(i) extremely wide range of values for k
(ii) site variations in permeability depending on the direction of flow
(iii) non-homogeneity in material layers
(iv) sampling problems, obtaining a representative sample and potential sample
disturbance
(v) effects of water seepage between sample and container walls