Permeability Test

Introduction
In the design of geotechnical engineering projects, one of the most important soil properties of
interest to the soils engineer is permeability. To some degree, permeability will play a role in the
design of almost any structure. For example, the durability of concrete is related to its permeability.
In designs that make use of earthen materials (soils and rock, etc.) the permeability of these materials
will usually be of great importance. The coefficient of permeability, k, is a product of Darcy’s Law. In
1856, Darcy established an empirical relationship for the flow of water through porous media. His
relationship has evolved into Darcy’s Law, which states:
Q=K i A

Where:
Q = flow rate (volume/time)
i = hydraulic gradient (unitless)
A = cross-sectional area of flow (area)
k = coeff. of permeability (length/time)
Methods for determination: A number of different methods for determining the coefficient of permeability
for soils exist, including
1- in-situ (field) methods .
2- laboratory methods.
In the laboratory, two common tests are generally used to determine this soil property. These two tests are
1- the falling head permeability test
2- the constant head permeability test.
3- Consolidation Test

Which test is used depends upon the type of soil to be tested. For soils of high permeability (sands and
gravels) a constant head test is used. For soils of intermediate to low permeability, a falling head test is
used.
In the constant head test, a constant total head difference is applied to the soil specimen, and the
resulting quantity of seepage can then be measured. This works very well for coarse-grained soils, but
with clays and silts, the quantity of seepage is much too small to be accurately measured. The falling
head test is different in that it does not fix the total head difference across the specimen. Instead, a
standpipe is connected to the inflow, and the water level in this standpipe is then allowed to drop as
water flows through the specimen. This will not work well for coarse-grained soils, because they are so
permeable that the head drops too rapidly to be accurately measured.
It should be noted that the coefficient of permeability is often referred to as hydraulic conductivity by hydrologists
and environmental scientists. In their notation, permeability has a entirely different definition. Some typical values
of the coefficient of permeability are shown in Table 1, below:

Table 1: typical values of the coefficient of permeability

the constant head permeability test
Equipment
1. Permeameter: This device is basically a transparent acrylic cylinder that encases the soil specimen to be tested. For
this test, since we are working with a coarse-grained soil, we’re using a rigid-walled permeameter, as discussed in the
introduction to this experiment. There are two piezometer taps located along the vertical axis of the cylinder; these will
measure the total head at specific points in the soil specimen. The permeameter cell also has ports in the top and the
bottom. These are the outflow and the inflow.
2. Geotextile filter disks (2): These will be placed between the soil and will act as filters.
3. Piezometers (2): These are flexible transparent tubes attached to the ports along the vertical axis of the permeameter
cell, and will allow the observation of total head.
4. Constant-head supply device: This is just a large funnel, with an overflow close to its lip, held up on a stand above the
permeameter. A flexible tube connects the bottom outlet of the funnel to the bottom inlet of the permeameter cell.
5. Gaskets (2): These will be placed between the base and cylinder, and will act as a water seal.
6. Constant-head outfall setup: Although it sounds hi-tech, this is just a flexible line connected to the top (outflow) of the
permeameter cell, running into a evaporating dish filled with water.
7. Deaired water supply (as described later)
8. Graduated cylinder, 100 mL.
9. Thermometer.
10. Silicon grease: This is rubbed onto the O-rings on the top and bottom of the cell in order to facilitate a better (water-
tight) seal.
11. Balance.
Constant-head supply
device
Piezometers

Balance Thermometer

permeameter cell Graduated cylinder, 100 mL

Procedure
PREPARATION OF WATER FOR THE TEST: Generally, when a permeability test is performed in the laboratory
for use in the design of a civil engineering project, the water used should be identical to the native water, that in the
field. For all but the most important projects, such water can be practically unattainable. Therefore, desired tap
water is generally used. Tap water contains dissolved oxygen, and when flowing through a porous media, such as
soil, this dissolved oxygen can actually come out of solution, and deposit air bubbles within the pore structure of the
soil specimen. These tiny air bubbles would impede the flow of water through the specimen, thereby giving
erroneous results. In order to circumvent this problem, water used in the permeability test should be freed of all (or
most) of its dissolved oxygen content. This is done by spraying water into a sealed tank kept under vacuum
pressure.
TEST PROCEDURE:
1. Start the assembly of the permeameter.
a) Grease both gaskets.
b) Place a gasket in the groove in the base of the permeameter.
c) Put the acrylic cylinder on top of this, into the groove.
d) Place a piece of geotextile filter fabric on top of this.
2. Set up specimen at desired relative density. To do this, you’ll need to measure the following: mass of the
specimen, cross-sectional area of the specimen, height of the specimen. The first specimen that you’ll set up should
be at a very low relative density.
a) Measure out a mass of sand—more than you think you’ll use for the test.
b) Using the technique demonstrated by your instructor, place sand in the permeameter in a very loose state to a
desired height. Remember to leave room at the top of the permeameter for the porous stone and spring to fit in. Be
careful at this point not to jar or bump the apparatus at all. Coarse grained soils are densified rather easily through
vibration.
c) Measure the height of the specimen, as well as the cross-sectional area of it.
d) Measure the mass of the sand remaining in your container (the leftover sand). The difference between this mass and
the initial mass of sand you measured is the mass of the sand in the permeameter. You will now be able to calculate the
density of the specimen.
3. Finish the assembly of the permeameter.
a) Place a second piece of geotextile filter fabric on top of the specimen.
b) Place the spring on top of this.
c) Put a second greased gasket into the groove in the top plate of the permeameter.
d) Lower the top plate of the permeameter into place gently, and screw it down tight.
4. Set up the manometers and the constant head apparatus.
a) The funnel should be placed above the permeameter on the provided stand.
b) The outflow tube at the bottom of the funnel should be attached to the bottom inflow port of the permeameter cell.
c) The overflow of the funnel should go to either the sink or a container (not the table top).
d) The outflow tube of the permeameter should be attached to its top port. This then leads into an evaporating dish
filled with water. The flow should exit this tube beneath the water level in the dish. The evaporating dish should
then be situated such that its pour lip is over the edge of the sink. Make sure the evaporating dish is just ready to
overflow.
5. Begin saturating the specimen.
a) Pour regular tap water into the funnel. Make sure to keep the water level in the funnel such that a little bit is
always flowing into the overflow—thus constant head will be maintained.
b) You should see the specimen begin to saturate. Water will slowly creep up the soil column. Begin checking the
apparatus for leaks. If there are any, try to eliminate them by tightening the nuts on the
screws holding the permeameter together. If the leaks cannot be eliminated, start the test over.
c) Check that the water levels rise in the manometers and that both are readable.
d) Remove all air bubbles from the lines and manometers by tapping them.
6. Let the system come to equilibrium, and practice taking measurements.
a) To determine permeability, what you’ll need to do is measure a certain amount of flow in a certain amount of time (Q)
as well as recording the total head difference (given by the manometers).
b) Hold the graduated cylinder under the lip of the evaporating dish. In this manner, you’ll be catching the outflow from
the device. Measure the amount of time it takes to capture a certain amount of flow. In this manner, you may determine
the flow rate.
c) Practice doing this while using regular tap water. Do it a few times, and record the values. When a steady, consistent
value is obtained, you may start the test. You should also watch the manometers at this stage and make sure they stay at
a consistent reading.
7. Start the test.
a) Begin pouring deaired water into the funnel. Make sure the water level in the funnel stays constant.
b) Wait a few moments for the deaired water to flush the system. Air bubbles will probably appear, and then dissolve.
After they’ve dissolved and the system comes to steady state once again, begin taking readings.
c) You’ll want to collect three different flow quantities and then average them later. Make sure to also record the
collection time for each of these quantities.
d) Record the levels in the two manometers.
e) When you’re done taking readings, keep the water flowing, you’re now ready to densify the specimen for the next
trial.
8. Start the next trial.
a) The next trial will be at a higher relative density. This is one reason why the spring is in the device. Instead of setting
up a new, denser
specimen, we can compact the same specimen inside the permeameter.
b) Tap on the side of the permeameter lightly until you measure a slight decrease in specimen height. When this occurs,
the specimen has densified.
c) Measure the new specimen height, and calculate its new density.
d) Keep water flowing through the system this entire time, or else you’ll have to deair the lines again and let the system
come to steady state.
9. Repeat the test process, taking the necessary readings.
10. Densify the specimen to close to its maximum relative density. Measure the new (third) height and calculate this new
(densest) specimen density.
11. Repeat the test again for this very dense specimen.
12. Measure the temperature of the water in the funnel before the test is over.
Calculations
1. Calculate the density of each specimen.
2. Calculate the relative density of each specimen.
3. Using phase relations, and known information, calculate the void ratio, e, of each specimen.
4. Calculate q, the flow rate for each trial for each specimen (there will be three trials per specimen).
q = Q / t where: Q = quantity of flow collected t = collection time
5. The coefficient of permeability, k, for each specimen may be calculate by:
k = [qave L] / [Ah]
where: qave = average flow rate determined from three trials
L = distance between manometers
A = cross-sectional area of specimen
h = difference in total head as measured by manometers
6. Correct the coefficient of permeability measured to that for 20°C.
This is done by means of a chart that is in the laboratory.
Q=kia
the falling head permeability test

𝑎𝐿 ℎ0
𝑘 = 2.3 log
𝐴(𝑡1−𝑡𝑜) ℎ1