PERMEABILITY AND SEEPAGE IN SOIL

WELCOME TO OUR PRESENTAION

Balaj Sheikh (Leader)

Ijlal Khan
M . Qasim Usmani
Abdullah Ikram
 Laboratory and field determining permeability
Laboratory methods:
 Constant head Field tests for determining
permeameter. permeability:
 Falling or variable head
permeameter. Feld tests are required
 Direct or indirect because permeability depends Factors affecting permeability:
measurement during on both the microstructure and
odometer test. macrostructure.  Grain size
 Horizontal capillarity  Entrapped air and foreign
test.  Pumping out of wells. matter
 Pumping into wells  Absorbed water.
Darcys Law:  Temperature.
 Types of solutes present
 This law state that principle which governs the  The level of cell hydration.
movement of fluid in the given substance.  Humidity.
 The law is based on, the flow between two points.

 It describes the relationship between the

instantaneous rate of discharge through a porous
medium and pressure drop at a distance.

 Q= -KA dh/dl
Balaj Sheikh
 Introduction to software (RocScience)

• RocScience software in soil mechanics

is renowned for its versality, accuracy,
and user-friendly interfaces.

• These tools empower

geotechnical engineers to make
Seepage control measure informal decisions, optimized
designs. And ensure the stability
• Use of filters to prevent piping and and safety of structure in diverse
heave. soil environments.
• Seepage reduction.
• Drainage.

Seepage reduction can be done by

Ijlal Khan using thin cutoffs, such as steel or
concrete walls impervious
membranes or linings on the
upstream face.

Filter Design
 Filter is provided between the native soil and the
drainage structure. The natural soil is called the
base material.
Permeability Criteria
 To ensure that water passes through the
filter system without building up excess
pressure, the following criteria is
recommended:
 D15,filter / D15,soil >= 5.0

 If the filter has larger voids than those of the

base material particles from the base material
are liable to get washed away and fill the ices of
the filter material.

 The design of the filter is largely empirical.

 The design of a proper filter lies in choosing the

material and dimension of the filter.

 The essential requirements for filter material

have been determined experimentally by
Terzaghi in 1942.

M . Qasim Usmani
 Flow Net
 A flow net consists of two sets of
lines which must always be
orthogonal.
 Flow lines which shows the
direction of ground water, and
Equipotential, which shows the
distribution of potential energy.
Equipotential Lines
 Equipotential lines are dashed black
lines.
 In the charge area, heads are lower in
deeper wells.
 A zone of horizontal flow occurs where
these lines are vertical.
 Heads in deep shallow wells at
approximately the same location are
about equal.

Gradient of Seepage:
 Critical hydraulic gradient: The quick
condition occurs at a critical upward
hydraulic gradient, when the seepage
force just balances the buoyant weight
of an element.
 The gradient Is typically around 1.0 for
many soil.
Abdullah Ikram
Estimation of Seepage Quantity:
 Average seepage can be determined by
dividing the seepage discharge within a
flow channel by the area of the flow
channel.
 The ultimate seepage rate through the
dam is given by the equation:
 Q=2kx0 and can also be calculated by
using flow net.