INTRODUCTION

In this laboratory session, students will be introduced on how to determine the coefficient of
permeability of soils using falling head test.Students are required to find the ways & means and
provide the answers to the given assignment using the group creativity and innovativeness. The
activity will enable the students to appreciate independent learning and prepare them for a much
harder task of open ended laboratory activities.Permeability is defined as the capacity of a soil to
allow water to pass through and the coefficient of permeability is the flow velocity produced by a
hydraulic gradient of unity.
The falling head test is used to determine the coefficient of permeability of fine-grained soils
such as silts and clays. For these types of soils, the rate of water flowing through them is too
small to enable accurate measurements using constant head permeameter. The determination of k
using the falling head test is govern by Darcy’s Law which states that the flow velocity of
proportional to the hydraulic gradient and derived as:

Where;
a = cross-sectional area of the standpipe
A = cross-sectional area of the sample
L = the length of the sample
h1= initial height of the standpipe
h2 = final height of the standpipe
t1= initial time before the start of the test
t2= final time at the end of the test

OBJECTIVE
To determine the coefficient of permeability of fine-grained soils.
APPARATUS
 Falling head permeameter
 Standpipes
 Triaxial cell or compaction mould
 Stopwatch
 Thermometer (if necessary)
 Bucket
 Sample extruder

APPARATUS
1. A U100 sample or from a core cutter tube was taken and sample was trimmed to
assure that both was flat and smooth.
2. The soil sample was fully into triaxial cell was placed on the top of a porous stone
and again a porous stone was placed on the top of soil sample.
3. The whole set up was placed in a bucket and partially submerged in water. The
sample should be encased in the triaxial cell to make sure that no air bubbles are
entrapped in the soil sample.
4. The length,L and the diameter of sample was measured. The diameter, of the
standpipe used in the test was recorded.
5. The standpipe was connected to the sample. The connection of the standpipe to the
sample should be intake to make sure that the presence of air is minimized.
6. The valve was opened and the water was filled into standpipe to a marked initial
height of the standpipe. The initial for height, h₁ and the time, t₁ before the
commencement of test was recorded.
7. The valve was closed and the test was started by observing the flow of flow of water
and time of the reduction. Once the flow of water reached the final height marked, the
time was stopped and the final reading for height, h₂ and time, t₂ was recorded
simultaneously.
8. The temperature at the same time of the test was recorded and obtain the
temperatureure correction from Table 1 for kt and k₂₀. The average of k was
computed by repeating the above procedure. The correction for the effect of the
temperature was given by:

Kt = KtK₂₀
Where:
Kt = value of k corresponding to a temperature of t
k₂₀ = value of k corresponding to a temperature of 20⁰C
Kt =temperture correction coefficient
INTRODUCTION
In this laboratory session, students will be introduced on how to determine the coefficient of
permeability of soils using constant head test. Students are required to find the ways & means
and provide the answers to the given assignment using the group creativity and innovativeness.
The activity will enable the students to appreciate independent learning and prepare them for a
much harder task of open ended laboratory activities.A material is said to be permeable if it
contains continuous voids. Permeability is a property of permeable material that permits flow of
liquids through the voids. The flows of liquid through soil either by laminar or turbulent
depending on permeability of soil and the head causing flow.A material is said to be permeable if
it contains continuous voids. Permeability is a property of permeable material that permits flow
of liquids through the voids. The flows of liquid through soil either by laminar or turbulent
depending on permeability of soil and the head causing flow.
Darcy (1856) demonstrated experimentally that for laminar flow conditions in a saturated soil,
the rate of flow or discharge per unit time is proportional to the hydraulic gradient.
q = k.i.A
Where; q = discharge per unit time
K = Darcy’s coefficient of permeability
i = hydraulic gradient
A = total cross-sectional area of soil mass, perpendicular
to the direction of flow
The coefficient of permeability (or simply permeability) of soil can be determined in laboratory
using permeameter under constant head or variable head. Under constant head if Q is total
quantity of flow (cm3) in time interval t (second) through cross sectional area of specimen A
(cm2) and L (cm) is length of specimen, H (cm) height of water in the tube, h (cm) is the
headloss measurement, thus the coefficient of permeability (k) is given by:

OBJECTIVE
To determine the coefficient of permeability of soils.
APPARATUS
 Permeameter complete with accessories
 de-aired water
 balance
 mixing pan
 graduated measuring cylinder
 meter scale
 stop watch
 beaker

PROSEDURES
1. The mould was cleaned and grease was applied on inside of mould. The weight was
recorded.
2. Sample prepared :
a) The sample was trimmed to the size of mould from undisturbed lump of soil
collected from the site. The sample was fitted into the mould. The wax was
applied around periphery of the sample for prevent from leakage.
b) The compacted remoulded specimen of desired density and water content was
prepared stastially.
c) The compacted remoulded specimen of desired density and water content was
prepared dynamically.
3. The excess soil was trimmed off. The filter paper was placed on top of soil specimen and
perforated based plate was fixed to it.
4. The assembly upside down was turned and compaction plate or end plug was removed.
The top perforated plate was placed on the top of soil specimen, sealing gasket was
inserted and the top cap was fixed properly.
5. The sample was saturated. Vacuum desiccators facility is used if available.
6. The specimen (mould) was taken out when saturation was completed.
7. The mould was placed in the bottom tank.
8. The bottom tank was filled with water up to its outlet.
9. Outlet tube of constant head tank was connected to the inner nozzle of the permeameter.
All air bubbles was removed from the system.
10. Hydraulic head was adjusted. The head was recorded.
11. The stopwatch was started and the same time a beaker was putted under the outlet of the
bottom tank.
12. The test was ran for some convenient time interval. The time was recorded.
13. The quantity of water collected during the time was measured and recorded.
14. The test was repeated until two time more under the same head and for the same time
interval.
RESULT

i) Falling head test

Diameter of sample = 10 cm
Cross sectional area of sample, A = 78.54 cm2
Length of sample, L = 7.5 cm
Mass of dry sample, M = 345 g
Moisture content of sample, w = 56 %
Bulk density of sample, ρ = 0.91 Mg/cm3
RESULT
Table 1: Recorded Data for Falling head test
Tes Standpip Diameter Area of Initial Final Time Area of Length of
t no e no of stand standpipe, a height, height, taken, specimen, specimen
pipe, d h1 h2 t A ,L
2
cm cm cm cm sec cm2 cm
1 1 0.91 0.6504 100 90 13.8 78.54 7.5
2 2 0.903 0.6404 100 90 9.56 78.54 7.5
3 3 0.931 0.6808 100 90 25.16 78.54 7.5

Table 2: Calculated data for falling head test

h1 aL k(cm/sec) Average k
log 2.303
h2 At (cm/sec)
0.0458 0.0104 4.763x10-4 4.74X10-4
0.0458 0.0147 6.733x10-4
0.0458 5.9508X10-3 2.725X10-4

ii) Constant Head Test

Length of sample, L = 15 cm
Diameter, D = 10 cm
Area, A = 78.54 cm2
Table 3: Recorded and calculated data for constant head test
Quantity Time Head Head HeadCoefficient of permeability, k (cm/sec)
of water, taken, loss, h1 loss, h2 loss, h3
k1 k2 k3 Average
Q (cm3) t (sec) (cm) (cm) (cm) k
-
5.38X10 5.42 5.58 546 X10-
20 10 71 70.5 68.5 3 -3 -3 3
X10 X10
4.95 5.20 5.20 5.12
77.1 73.5 73.5
X10-3 X10-3 X10-3 X10-3
3.63 3.95 3.95 3.84
15 10 79.0 72.5 72.5
X10-3 X10-3 X10-3 X10-3
3.63 4.09 4.09 3.94
79.0 70.0 70.0
X10-3 X10-3 X10-3 X10-3
4.59
Overall average coefficient of permeability of soil sample, k (cm/sec)
X10-3

ANALYSIS
i) Falling head test

Area of standpipe, a:

π D2
a=
4

π (0.91)2
a=
4

a=0.6504 c m 3
To find permeability of soil, k in cm/second:

aL h1
k =2.303 log
At h2

(0.6504)(7.5) 100
k =2.303 log
(78.54)(13.8) 90

k =4.763 ×10−4 cm/sec

ii) Constant head test

QL
k=
A ht
20(15)
k=
78.54 (71)(10)
k =5.38 X 10−3 cm/sec
DISCUSSION

The value of the permeability that we get from our experiment and data is 5.38 X 10−3 cm/sec .
This value we get by using formula :

QL
k=
Aht

This permeability of this sample is moderate. This is because the porosity of the sand and gravels
high or moderate where the water can flows through the soil with less resistance. It can drain
water easily but hardly retain any water. The greater pore size of the soil is more permeability
then the soil with smaller pore size. From value of k, we can classify the type of soil that we use
is silly clay and this types of soil is not suitable for drainage system.

The coefficient of the permeability may be defined as the flow velocity produced by a hydraulic
gradient of unity. The value of k is use as a measure of the resistance to flow offered by the soil,
and it is affected by several factors:

 The porosity of the soil.

 The particle size distribution.

 The shape and orientation of soil particles.

 The degree of saturation/presence of air.

 The type of cation and thickness of adsorbed layers associated with clay minerals.

 The viscosity of the soil water, with varies temperature.

CONCLUSION
Based on the esperiment , we can know that the objective of this experiment is to find the
coefficient permeability off sands and gravel. From the experiment that we have done we know
that the objective of this experiment is achieved. The porosity of sand and gravel is high or
moderate where by water can flow through the soil with less ressistance.
The greater pore size of soil is more permeability then the soil with smaller pore size.From value
of k, ( located in discussion ) , we can know the coefficient of permeability of the sand and
gravel for constant and falling head test