Continuous Assessment Cover Sheet

Faculty of Engineering

Module Details
Module Code CE2811 Module Title Geotechnical engineering 1
Program: SLIIT/Curtin/SHU/ Course: BSc/ BEng/
Stream: Civil/Electronics/Mechanical/

Assessment details
Title PERMEABILITY TEST Group assignment YES / NO
If yes, Group No.
Lecturer/ Instructor Date of Performance
Due date Date submitted

Student statement and signature

By this declaration, I/we confirm my/our understanding and acceptance that the work reported in this report is my/our own work. I/we also
understand the consequences of engaging in plagiarism or copying others work without proper citation. Any material used in this work (whether
from published sources, the internet or elsewhere) have been fully acknowledged and referenced and are without fabrication or falsification of
data.
[Copying or plagiarism will result in a “0” mark for the continuous assessment and “F” for the module after an investigation on academic
misconduct;

All academic misconduct is considered seriously and defined as dishonest and in direct opposition to the values of a learning community.
Misconduct may result in penalties from failure to exclusion from the campus.
Further help and guidance on how to avoid academic misconduct can be obtained from your academic advisor/tutor]

By this declaration, I/we confirm my understanding and acceptance that-

• I/we have adhered to relevant ethical guidelines and procedures in the completion of the assignment.
• I/we have not allowed another student to have access to or copy from this work.
• This work has not been submitted previously.
[The Institute may request an electronic copy of this work for submission to the Plagiarism detection facility (TURNITIN). You must make sure
that an electronic copy of your work is available in these circumstances]

Details of the student/s submitting the assignment Signature

ID Number Name (As per the institute records )

EN21433238 Achalanka T.N.K

OFFICE USE ONLY

Receiving Officer Specific comments about the work (including overall comments and guidelines
(seal, signature, date) for improvement)

Tutor: Signature: Date:

Marks: [ All marks are subject to external moderation and approval of board of
examinations]

1
 SRI LANKA INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1
(CE2811)

PERMEABILITY TEST

Name: Achalanka T.N.K……………………...

Student ID : EN21433238……………………..
Group : F………………..

2
Title:
Permeability test

Objectives:
• To conduct permeability test on a soil.
• To conduct falling head permeability test.
• To determine the coefficient of permeability.

Introduction:
The ability of a soil to allow water to pass through its pores or spaces is known as its permeability.
It is one of the most significant soil characteristics that geotechnical engineers are interested in.
The constant head test method and the falling head test method are the two main forms of
permeability tests. For coarse-grained soils with a respectable discharge over a specified period of
time, the constant head permeability test is employed, whereas the falling head method is used for
soils with low flow.
The applications listed below demonstrate the significance of permeability in geotechnical designs.
• Permeability influences the rate of settlement of a saturated soil under load.
• The design of earth dams is very much based upon the permeability of the soils used.
• The stability of slopes and retaining structures can be greatly affected by the permeability of
the soils involved.
• Filters made of soils are designed based upon their permeability.

Theory:
A laboratory permeability test will calculate the coefficient of permeability (k) for a specific soil
sample using the Falling Head method. The falling head method is based on Darcy's law.
Darcy’s law:
Based on his experimental findings, French scientist Henry Darcy created the Darcy's law for
ground water flow. For the velocity of water through saturated soils, Darcy proposed a
straightforward equation (Equation 1) in 1856.
𝑣 = 𝑘𝑖 ……….. (1)

Where.

3
v – Discharge velocity, which is the quantity of water flowing in unit time through a unit
cross sectional area of soil at right angle to the direction of flow,
k – Coefficient of permeability
i – Hydraulic gradient
Water is allowed to run through the stand pipe of cross sectional area ‘a’ into the sample of
cross sectional area ‘A’ as shown in Figure 1. The times t1, t2, t3 etc. are noted when the
dropping water level indicates readings h1, h2, h3 etc.

Figure 1: Falling Head Apparatus

4
Apparatus:
• Standpipe
• Soil sample
• Mold
• Control valves
• Stopwatch
• Meter ruler
• Wash bottle

5
Procedure:

• First, it was determined whether the soil sample was saturated by observing whether the
outlet valve was releasing the same amount of water over the course of the same amount of
time.

• Then, the water was filled to a certain level, and the meter ruler that was linked to the tube
next to it was used to record the initial water height.

• Next, the stopwatch was started simultaneously with the valve being opened, allowing water
to start flowing.

• After that, the height of the water level in the standpipe was noted at 5 minutes intervals.

• Finally, the previous step was repeated up to 50 minutes and all the heights were recorded.

Observations:
• Diameter of the standpipe = 19mm
• Diameter of the sample = 121mm
• Length of the sample = 128.9mm

T(min) H0(mm) H1(mm) HO/H1 Ln(H0/H1)

6
0 122.81 121.81 1 0

5 122.81 121.8 1.008 8.258 x 10-3

10 122.81 120.21 1.022 21.398 x 10-3

15 122.81 119.1 1.031 30.675 x 10-3

20 122.81 118.3 1.038 37.415 x 10-3

25 122.81 117.2 1.047 46.757 x 10-3

30 122.81 116.3 1.055 54.465 x 10-3

35 122.81 115.45 1.063 61.801 x 10-3

40 122.81 114.34 1.074 71.462 x 10-3

45 122.81 113.21 1.085 81.394 x 10-3

50 122.81 112.24 1.094 89.999 x 10-3

7
8
9
10
11
12
13
References:
(2022). Retrieved 26 August 2022, from https://www.slideshare.net/NurulAdha2/permeability-testpdf.

(2022). Retrieved 26 August 2022, from https://www.slideshare.net/RazAzad/permeability-test.

Uomustansiriyah.edu.iq. (2022). Retrieved 26 August 2022, from

https://uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/media/lectures/5/5_2018_03_06!05_12_32_PM.pdf.

falling head apparatus - Google Search. Google.com. (2022). Retrieved 26 August 2022, from
https://www.google.com/search?q=falling+head+apparatus&sxsrf=ALiCzsZBbhKJjgs5dAsVNfkUNKET4a9Law:1661
531577192&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwin8MO79-
T5AhVa4GEKHXjVCpsQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1536&bih=754&dpr=1.25#imgrc=vBRBZr3i_Fe9xM.

14