CHAPTER 5

WATER IN SOIL
Content Title
5.1 Flow of Water in Soil
5.2 Laboratory Test for Coefficient of Permeability – Constant head
5.3 Laboratory Test for Coefficient of Permeability – Falling head
5.4 Effect of Temperature on k
5.5 Effect of Viscosity to the Value of k
5.6 Construction of Flow Net
5.7 Calculation of Rate of Seepage
5.8 Other Example of Flow Net
5.1 Flow of Water in Soil

• Water flow in soil between 2 points

• Due to the difference in pressure (or due to the difference in hydraulic head
between them)
• From higher pressure to lower pressure
Darcy’s Test

q A Sand Filter B q

ℎ
𝑞=𝑘 𝐴
𝐿
Where;
q = flow rate
k = rate coefficient
h = difference in head between point A and point B (unit length)
π𝐷2
A = cross – sectional area of soil specimen, =
4
L = Length of soil specimen from point a to point B
 h
q=k A
L
h
q = kiA ; where i =
L
If the flow velocity is v, so

𝑞 = 𝐴v; where v =ki

 Factor influence the water flow rate in soil
1) Porosity
2) Soil particle distribution
3) Arrangement and shape of soil particles
4) Mineral content in soil
5) Viscosity of soil – water mixtures
6) Temperature
Example 5.1
h

q A Sand Filter B q

Water flows through sand filter as in figure . The cross- sectional area and
the length of soil sample are 0.250 m2 and 2.00 m respectively. The
difference in head is 0.16m. Coefficient of permeability is 6.90 x 10−4 m/s.
Calculate :

Water flow rate going through the sandy soil sample.

Solution
h
q = kiA ; where i =
L
h 0.16 m
i= = = 0.08
L 2.00 m

q = (6.90 x 10−4 m/s) (0.08) (0.250m2)

= 1.38 x 10-5 m3/s
Example 5.2
In a soil test it takes 16 min for 1508 cm3 of water to pass through the soil
sample. Cross-sectional area of the soil is 50.3cm2 with void ratio of 0.68. Find:
1) Velocity of water passes the soil sample.
2) Actual velocity of water (interstitial)

Solution
Q = Avt
1) v =volume/time/area v = Q/(At)
v = 1508 / 16 / 50.3
= 1.874 cm/min or 0.0312 cm/s
𝑐𝑚
2) 𝑣 (1 + 𝑒) 0.0312 (1 + 0.68ቁ
𝑣𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 (𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙) = = 𝑠
𝑒 0.68
= 0.0771 𝑐 𝑚Τ𝑠
5.2 Laboratory Test for Coefficient of Permeability
– Constant Head Permeability
• To determine the permeability, k for coarse grain soil
• Darcy’s Law

v =ki
Where:
Solve for k :
k – coefficient of permeability and
q Q𝐿
i – hydraulic gradient (i =
h
L
) k = 𝑜𝑟 𝑘 =
Ai Aht

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 = 𝐴𝑣𝑡 = 𝐴 𝑘𝑖 𝑡

Where:
Q A – Cross-sectional area of sample
𝑞 = 𝐴ki, where q = L – Length of soil sample
t
Profile of the overall constant head
Apparatus
1) Permeameter cell and fine sand
2) Stop watch
3) Measuring cylinder
4) Ruler (straight edge)

Procedure
1) Weigh soil
2) Measure internal diameter of permeameter cell
3) Compact soil into permeameter cell
4) Allow water flow through sample until conditions appear to be steady and water levels in
the manometer tubes remain stationary.
5) Diminished all air bubbles
6) Regulate the valve surface to get the difference in head
7) After constant head measured, obtained valve Q is opened for 2 minutes and water flowing
out through it measured by using measuring cylinder.
8) Make sure that while the water flow out at the constant head difference in manometer
9) Measure and record the water volume in the measuring cylinder.
10) Repeat steps (2) to (7).
5.3 Laboratory Test for Coefficient of Permeability
– Falling Head Permeability
• To determine the permeability, k for silt and clay
• Permeability, k is flow rate for each surface unit area under a pressure of one
hydraulic unit.
• Factors that affect the value of permeability, k are
• soil particle size,
• void ratio, 𝑎𝐿 ℎ1
• shape of soil particle, k =2.3026 𝑙𝑜𝑔10
A𝑡 ℎ2
• density of liquid used in the test and
• temperature.
Table 5.3 Values of permeability, k for
different soil sizes
Apparatus
1) Compaction permeameter cell and silty clay soil.
2) Cylinder mould
3) Ruler straight edge
4) Stop watch
5) tray

Procedure
1) Prepare sample ; silty clay
2) Weighed mass of the cylinder
3) Prepare sample
4) Placed the soil sample in container and fill the water up to outlet level of the
container
5) Water flowing into sample through rubber tube
6) Record the time for the water level to descend between two levels at the
specified distance. Set datum fir the measurement of head
7) Find the value of permeability using the equation

Data example as in module, page 132.

Example 5.3

Given a constant head permeability test was performed on a sandy soil with a trace
of mica. The following results were obtained :
• Quantity of water collected = 250 cm3.
• Length of specimen between two ends of manometer = 11.43 cm.
• Time taken for water collection = 65.0s
• Head (difference of water level in both manometer) = 5.5 cm
• Water temperature = 20°C
• Diameter of soil specimen = 10.16 cm.
• Find k
 𝑎𝐿 ℎ1
Example 5.4 k =2.3026
A𝑡
𝑙𝑜𝑔10
ℎ2

Given the data from a falling head test as follows :

• Length of specimen = 15.80 cm.
• Diameter of specimen = 10.16 cm.
• Cross-sectional area of burrette (glass tube) = 1.83 cm2.
• Initial hydraulic head, h1 = 120.0 cm.
• Final hydraulic head, h2 = 110.0 cm
• Time taken for the water level to drop from h1 to h2 = 20 min (1200s)
• Temperature of water = 20°C.
• Find k
5.4 Effect of Temperature to the Value of k

Value in table 5.7

Example
5.5 Effect of Viscosity on k

• Das (2002):
Example 5.7

Given the permeability of clay soil is 3 x 10^-7 cm/sec. If the viscosity of the
water at 25°C is 0.0911g.sec/cm2. Calculate the absolute permeability of the
soil.
 Example 5.8
Given the result from constant head test for fine sand in tube of 150 mm diameter
and 300 mm long are as follow:
• Difference of constant head = 500 mm.
• Time taken for water collection = 5 min.
• Volume of water collected = 350 cm3
• Temperature of water = 24°C
• Calculate the permeability of soil specimen at temperature of 20°C.

Dengan
Q𝐿 Q = 350x10-3mm3,
𝑘= L = 300mm,
Aht
A = (π/4)(150)2=17671.46 mm2,
h = 500mm,
t = 5x60=300sec
 Flow nets
• Flow Lines:
A line along which a water
particle will travel from
upstream to the
downstream in the
permeable soil medium.

• Equipotential lines:
A line along which the
potential head at all points
is equal
5.6 Construction of Flow Net
1. Scaled figure is required (normally by the use of graph paper) cross-section of
the flow shows pervious stratum that allows the flow of water and impervious
stratum that inhibit the flow,
2. Sketch 2 to 4 flow lines that represent flow directions of water
particles, these lines shall be parallel with the impervious stratum
and perpendicular to impervious layer,

pervious stratum

impervious stratum
3. Sketch the equipotential lines that connect the points of the same
head values, they are nearly perpendicular to the flow line drawn
earlier and the end result is a collection of flow lines intersecting
equipotential lines in a series of nearly square boxes of flow
4. Normally after two to four trials that the intended flow nets is
obtained,
* Flow lines and equipotential line can be schematically presented as

Intersection of equipotential and flowlines

5.7 Calculation of Rate of Seepage

• Total flowrate, q shall be calculated

kh𝑁𝑓
𝑞=
𝑁𝑑

Where :
k – coefficient of permeability,
h – head difference,
Nf – number of flow and
Nd – number of head drops or the number of difference in equipotential line.
 Example 5.9
• Given the flownet as in Figure, coefficient of permeability = 4.80 x 10-3 cm/s.
• Find : Total flowrate of the flownet per meter width of the sheet pile penetrating through
the impervious stratum.
Solution:

k= 4.80 x 10^-3 cm/s = 4.8 x 10^-5 m/s

H = 4m – 1m = 3m
Nf = 5, Nd = 9

kh𝑁𝑓 (4.8 𝑥10−5 𝑚/𝑠)(3𝑚)(5)

𝑞= =
𝑁𝑑 9

= 0.00008 𝑚3 /s per m of sheet pile

5.8 Other Example of Flow Net
 Tutorial
Construct flow net for the concrete dam as shown in Figure 5.28. estimate the value of
seepage.
Thank You