DARCY'S LAW

Darcy's law is an equation that describes the flow of a fluid through a porous medium. The law was
formulated by Henry Darcy based on results of experiments on the flow of water through beds of sand,
forming the basis of hydrogeology, the flow of free water through soil is governed by Darcy law. Darcy
demonstrated experimentally that for a laminar flow in a homogenous soil, the velocity of flow is given
by

V= ki -----equ 1

Where k is the coefficient of permeability

i is the hydraulic gradient

The coefficient of permeability makes reference to the velocity at which water flows through a given soil
sample.

The hydraulic gradient is a dimensionless quantity. The hydraulic gradient of the given hydraulic heads, h₁,
and h₂ is the difference between in the hydraulic heads, Δh. Divided by the distance between the two
points to obtain the hydraulic gradient. Mathematically, this is: i= (h₁ - h₂)/L

One application of Darcy's law is in the analysis of water flow through an aquifer; Darcy's law along with
the equation of conservation of mass simplifies to the groundwater flow equation, one of the basic
relationships of hydrogeology.

NOTE: Darcy’s lay is limited to laminar flow

The velocity of flow is also known as the discharge velocity or the superficial velocity. Equation 1 is known
as Darcy's law, which is one of the corner stones of soil engineering. The discharge (q) is obtained by
multiplying the velocity of flow (v) by the total cross-sectional area of soil normal to the direction of flow.
Thus
VA= kiA -----equ 2
q= kiA -----equ 3
The cross section area of the sample “A” includes both the solids and the voids.
The coefficient of permeability can be defined using equation 1. If the hydraulic gradient is unity, the
coefficient of permeability is equal to the velocity of flow. In other words, the coefficient of permeability
is defined as the velocity of flow which would occur under unit hydraulic gradient. The coefficient of
permeability has the dimensions of velocity [L/T]. It is measured in mm/sec, cm/sec, m/sec, m/day or
other velocity units.

DETERMINATION OF COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY

The coefficient of permeability of a soil can be determined using the following methods.

(a) Laboratory Methods.

 The coefficient of permeability of a soil sample can be determined by the following methods:

(1) Constant-head permeability test.

(ii) Variable-head permeability test.
The instruments used are known as permeameters. The former test is suitable for relatively more pervious
soils, and the latter for less pervious soils.
(b) Field Methods.
The coefficient of permeability of a soil deposit in-situ conditions can be determined by the following
field’s methods
(1) Pumping-out tests.
(2) Pumping-in tests.

The pumping-out tests influence a large area around the pumping well and give an overall value of the
coefficient of permeability of the soil deposit. The pumping-in test influences a small area around the hole
and therefore gives a value of the coefficient of permeability of the soil surrounding the hole.

CONSTANT HEAD PERMEABILITY TEST

Constant head permeameter

The coefficient of permeability of a relatively more permeable soil (coarse soil samples like sand) can be
determined in a laboratory by the constant-head permeability test. The test is conducted in an instrument
known as constant head permeameter. This instrument consist of a cylindrical mould with two
manometer one at the upper section and the other at the bottom section of the mould.

It has two very permeable filter disc one at the top and the other at the bottom of the mould.

This experiment can be carried out on both disturbed and undisturbed soil samples, for the disturb soil
sample the soil is compacted in the mould so as to obtain a density close to the undisturbed soil ( that is
the density of the In-situ soil). Water is then allowed to flow through the soil so as to saturate the soil.
Note; the water level in the reservoir must be kept constant. Before the experience begins the flow must
be steady.

A steady flow is a flow in which the quantity of liquid flowing per second through any section of the sample
is constant.

The water which enters the chamber after flowing through the sample spills over the chamber and is
collected in a graduated jar for a convenient period. The head causing flow (h) is equal to the difference
in water levels between the constant-head reservoir and the constant-head chamber.

The quantity of water in the graduated jar Q over a given time T is measured.

Q/t is the discharge (q)

If the cross-sectional area of the specimen is A, the discharge can be given by Darcy law
ℎ
q=kiA. Where i is given by
𝐿

ℎ
q=𝐾 𝐴
𝐿

𝑞𝐿
𝐾 = ℎ𝐴

VARIABLE-HEAD PERMEABILITY TEST

Variable-head permeability test

For relatively less permeable soils (that is fine grain soils), the quantity of water collected in the graduated
jar of the constant-head permeability test is very small and cannot be measured accurately. For such soils,
the variable-head permeability test is used. The permeameter mould is the same as that used in the
constant-head permeability test. A vertical, graduated stand pipe of known diameter and cross section
area “a” is fitted to the top of permeameter. The sample is placed between two porous discs. The whole
assembly is placed in a constant head chamber filled with water to the brim at the start of the test. Shown
in the schematic sketch above. The porous discs and water tubes should be de-aired before the sample is
placed. If in-situ, undisturbed sample is available, the sample should be trimmed and gentle place in the
mould, filling the void between the sample and the mould with an impervious material.

However, if a disturbed sample is used the soil sample is put into the mould and then compacted to the
required density.

After which the soil is then fully saturated by allowing water flow through it, both the top and bottom
outlets are closed. The standpipe is filled with water to the required height. The test is started by allowing
the water in the stand pipe to flow through the sample to the constant-head chamber from which it
overflows and spills out. As the water flows through the soil, the water level in the standpipe falls. The
time required for the water level to fall from a known initial head (ℎ1 ) to a known final head (h₂) is
determined. The head is measured with reference to the level of water in the constant- head chamber.

Let us consider the instant when the head is h. For the infinitesimal small time dt, the head falls by -dh.
Let the discharge through the sample be q. From continuity of flow,

a × -dh = q × dt

Where “a” is cross-sectional area of the standpipe.

From Darcy’s law we have that q= kiA. Hence,

ℎ
a × -dh = kiA× dt. Where i is given by 𝐿

ℎ
−𝑎𝑑ℎ = 𝑘 × 𝐿 × 𝐴 × 𝑑𝑡

We can rearrange the equation to get

𝑑ℎ 𝑘𝐴
− ℎ
= 𝑎𝐿 × 𝑑𝑡

By integrating the above equation

ℎ 𝑑ℎ 𝑘𝐴 𝑡
− ∫ℎ 2 = ∫ 𝑑𝑡
𝑎𝐿 0
1 ℎ

We have that

ℎ 𝑘𝐴
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 (ℎ1 ) = 𝑎𝐿 𝑡
2

Rearranging the above equation to get

𝑎𝐿 ℎ
𝑘 = 𝐴𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒 (ℎ1 )
2