MODULE IN

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1

CE 3131

CIVIL AND GEODETIC ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

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 CE 3131

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module, you should
be able to:
1. Determine and analyze the
different soil properties and apply
it to solving different soil
problems.
2. Determine and analyze the
classification of soils and rocks,
site investigation and subsurface
exploration of the physical and
index properties of soil.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in
analyzing the different laboratory
determination of soil properties,
GEOTECHNICAL compaction, seepage and
relevance of these topics as they
ENGINEERING 1 affect soil strength,
compressibility and stability.

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 MODULE 6:
PERMEABILITY

Sample Problems:

7.3 The results of a constant-head permeability test for a fine sand sample having a
]
238 diameter of 150 mm and a length of 300 mm are as follows:
• Constant-head difference = 500 mm
• Water collected in 5 min = 350 cm3
• Void ratio of sand = 0.61
Determine:
a. Hydraulic conductivity, k (cm/sec)
b. Seepage velocity

Given:
d = 150 mm
L = 300 mm
h = 500 mm
V = 350 cm3
t = 5 min
e = 0.61

Required:
a. k (cm/sec)
b. vs

Solution:
a. Determine hydraulic conductivity using Eq. 6.23:
VL (350 cm3 )(300 mm)
k= =
tAh 60 s 𝜋 1 cm 2
(5 min × ) [ × (150 mm × ) ] (500 mm)
1 min 4 10 mm
cm
k = 3.961 × 10−3
s

b. Determine seepage velocity using Eq. 6.18:

v
vs =
n
Solve porosity, n: (Eq. 2.9)
e 0.61
n= = = 0.379
1 + e 1 + 0.61

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 Solve velocity, v (Eq. 6.5):
h cm 500 mm cm
v = ki = k ( ) = (3.961 × 10−3 ) ( ) = 6.602 × 10−3
L s 300 mm s
cm
6.602 × 10−3
vs = s = 0.017 cm
0.379 s

7.4 In a constant-head permeability test, the length of the specimen is 150 mm and the
]
238 cross-sectional area is 3167 mm . If k = 0.062 cm/sec and a rate of flow of 160 cm /min
2 3

has to be maintained during the test, what should be the head difference across the
specimen? Also, determine the discharge velocity under the test conditions.

Given:
L = 150 mm
A = 3167 mm2
k = 0.062 cm/sec
q = 160 cm3/min

Required:
a. Constant – head difference, h
b. Discharge velocity, v

Solution:
a. Constant – head difference, h
Use and rearrange Eq. 6.23:
V L qL
k=( ) =
t Ah Ah
cm3
qL (160
) (150 mm)
min
h= = = 203.714 mm.
Ak 2 1 cm 2 cm 60 sec
(3167 mm ) ( ) (0.062 × )
10 mm sec 1 min

b. Discharge velocity, v (Eq. 6.5):

h cm 203.714 mm. cm
v = ki = k ( ) = (0.062 )( ) = 0.084
L sec 150 mm s

7.5 The following data are for a falling-head permeability test:

238
] • Length of the soil sample = 150 mm
• Area of the soil sample = 1964 mm2
• Area of the standpipe = 25 mm2
• At time t = 0, head difference = 400 mm
• At time t = 8 min, head difference = 200 mm
a. Determine the hydraulic conductivity of the soil (cm/sec).
b. What was the head difference at t = 6 min?

Given:
L = 150 mm

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 A = 1964 mm2
a = 25 mm2
t1 = 0
h1 = 400 mm
t2 = 8 min
h2 = 200 mm

Required:
a. k (cm/sec)
b. h2 new at t2 new = 6 min

Solution:
a. Determine hydraulic conductivity using Eq 6.34:
1 cm
aL h1 (25 mm2 ) (150 mm × )
k= ln ( ) = 10 mm ln (400 mm)
A(t 2 − t1 ) h2 60 sec 200 mm
(1964mm2 )(8 min − 0) ( )
1 min
cm
k = 2.757 × 10−4
s
b. h2 new at t2 new = 6 min
rearrange Eq. 6.34:
Ak (t 2 − t1 )
lnh2 = lnh1 −
aL
Ak (t2 −t1 )
[lnh1 − aL ]
h2 = 𝑒
cm 60 sec
(1964mm2 )(2.757×10−4 s ) (6min−0)( 1 min )
[ln(400 mm)− ]
(25 mm2 )(15cm)
h2 = 𝑒
h2 = 237.841 mm.

7.6 The following data are for a falling-head permeability test:

] • Length of the soil sample = 500 mm
238
• Area of the soil sample = 1600 mm2
• Area of the standpipe = 97 mm2
• At time t = 0, head difference = 410 mm
• At time t = 10 min, head difference = 185 mm
If the test was conducted at 20°C at which γw = 9.789 kN/m3 and μ = 1.005x10-3 N-
s/m2,
a. Determine the absolute permeability of the soil.
b. What was the head difference at t = 7 min?

Given:
L = 500 mm
A = 1600 mm2
a = 97 mm2
t1 = 0
h1 = 410 mm
t2 = 10 min
h2 = 185 mm
T = 20°C

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 γw = 9.789 kN/m3
μ = 1.005x10-3 N-s/m2

Required:
a. k̅ (m2)
b. h2 new at t2 new = 7 min

Solution:
a. Determine hydraulic conductivity using Eq 6.34:
1m
aL h1 (97 mm2 ) (500 mm × )
k= ln ( ) = 1000 mm ln (410 mm)
A(t 2 − t1 ) h2 60 sec 185 mm
(1600mm2 )(10 min − 0) ( )
1 min
m
k = 4.020 × 10−5
s
Absolute hydraulic conductivity from Eq. 6.19:
γw
k= ∙ k̅
μ
rearrange:
−5 m −3 N − s)
kμ (4.020 × 10 s ) (1.005 × 10 m2 = 4.128 × 10−12 m2
k̅ = =
γw N
9789 3
m
b. h2 new at t2 new = 7 min
rearrange Eq. 6.34:
Ak (t 2 − t1 )
lnh2 = lnh1 −
aL
Ak (t2 −t1 )
[lnh1 − aL ]
h2 = 𝑒
m 60 sec
(1600 mm2 )(4.020 ×10−5 s ) (7min−0)( )
[ln(410 mm)− 1 min ]
(97 mm2 )(0.5m)
h2 = 𝑒
h2 = 234.885 mm.

UNIT 3: EMPIRICAL FORMULA TO DETERMINE HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

EXPLAIN

• For fine grained sands:

cm 2
k( ) = cD10 (6.35)
sec
where:
c = a constant that varies from 1.0 ≈ 1.5
D10 = the effective size, mm

• For normally consolidated soils:

en
k = C( ) (6.36)
1+e

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 where:
C and n = constants

Sample Problem:

7.14 For a normally consolidated clay, the following values are given:
]
238

Estimate k at a void ratio of 1.1.

Required: k at e = 1.1

Solution:
For normally consolidated soils use Eq. 6.36 to determine C and n:
en
k = C( )
1+e
rearrange:
k
C=
en
( )
1+e

for the first data:

cm
0.2 × 10−6
C= s
0.95n
( )
1 + 0.95

For the second data:

cm
0.91 × 10−6
C= s
1.6n
( )
1 + 1.6

Equate the two equations:

cm cm
0.2 × 10−6 0.91 × 10−6
s = s
0.95n 1.6n
( ) ( )
1 + 0.95 1 + 1.6
cm
1.6n 0.91 × 10−6
= s × 2.6
0.95 n cm 1.95
0.2 × 10−6
s

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 −6 cm
1.6 n 0.91 × 10 s × 2.6
( ) = cm
0.95 0.2 × 10−6 1.95
s
cm
0.91 × 10−6 2.6
log ( s
−6 cm × 1.95)
0.2 × 10
n= s = 3.458
1.6
log ( )
0.95
substitute n to solve C:
cm
0.2 × 10−6
C= s = 4.657 × 10−7 cm
0.95 3.458 s
( )
1 + 0.95
cm 1.13.458 cm
k = (4.657 × 10−7 ) ( ) = 3.083 × 10−7
s 1 + 1.1 s

REFERENCE

Das B.M., and Sobhan, K. (2014) Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 8th ed. United
States: Cengage Learning

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