Sample Problem 7.1.

Permeability
Find the flow rate through the permeable soil layer
shown in the figure given that k = 0.08 cm/sec for the
permeable layer, calculate the rate of seepage through
it if H = 8 m, H1 = 3 m, h = 4 m. L = 50 m and α = 8º.

Solution: In determining the flow rate (discharge) using

the formula
ℎ
𝑞 = 𝑘𝑖𝐴 = 𝑘 𝐴
𝐿
L is the length of the permeable layer, parallel with the
flow, where the head loss h occurred. While is A is the
cross section of the permeable layer perpendicular to L’
the flow. The width of the permeable layer is indefinite H1
thus, the rate of flow (discharge) may be determined ’
per unit width of the layer, in this case per meter (m)
width, and with reference to the figure
ℎ 1 m width
𝑞 = 𝑘𝑖𝐴 = 𝑘 ൬𝐻′ × ൰
𝐿′ 1 1 m width
𝐿
where: 𝐿′ = and 𝐻1 ′ = 𝐻1 cos 𝛼
cos 𝛼
4m 1𝑚
𝑞 = 𝑘𝑖𝐴 = (0.0008 m/sec ) × × ൤(3 m cos 8°) × ൨
50 m 1𝑚
cos 8°
m3 Τsec
𝑞 = 1.8828 × 10−4
m (width)
 Sample Problem 7.2. Permeability
A permeable soil layer is underlain by
an impervious layer as shown in the
figure. With k = 4.8 × 10-3 cm/sec for
the permeable layer, calculate the
rate of seepage through it if H = 3 m
and α = 5º.

Solution: Section AB is taken to define length of

the permeable layer L and the, the head loss h A
h
within the section AB. Rate of flow (discharge) h
per unit width of the layer is to be computed since L B
the width is indefinite. From the figure the h
relationship between L and h is given by:
ℎ = 𝐿 sin 𝛼

the discharge q (per unit width) is obtained as:

ℎ ℎ 1 m width
𝑞 = 𝑘 𝐴 = 𝑘 ൬𝐻 cos 𝛼 × ൰
𝐿 𝐿 1 m width
𝐿 sin 5° 1𝑚
𝑞 = (4.8 × 10−5 m/sec ) × × ൤(3 m cos 5°) × ൨
𝐿 1𝑚

m3 Τsec
𝑞 = 1.2503 × 10−5
m (width)

Sample Problem 7.3. Permeability – Constant Head Permeability Test

Refer to the constant head permeability test arrangement previously shown. A test gives these
L = 457.2 mm
A = area of the specimen = 2258.06 mm2
Constant-head difference, h = 711.2 mm
Water collected in a period of t = 3 min is 353.63 cm3
Calculate the hydraulic conductivity in cm/sec.

Solution:
𝑉𝐿 (353.63 cm3 )(45.72 cm)
𝑘= = = 5.5931 × 10−4 cmΤsec
𝐴ℎ𝑡 (22.5806 cm2 )(71.12 cm)(3 × 60 sec)

Sample Problem 7.4. Permeability – Falling Head Permeability Test

For a falling-head permeability test, the following values are given:
Length of the specimen = 200 mm
Area of the soil specimen = 1000 mm2
Area of the standpipe = 40 mm2
Head difference at time t = 0 is 500 mm
Head difference at time t = 3 min is 300 mm
Determine the hydraulic conductivity of the soil in cm/sec.

Solution:
𝑎𝐿 ℎ1 (40 mm2 )(200 mm) 500 mm
𝑘= ln = ln = 0.22703 mmΤsec
𝐴𝑡 ℎ2 (1000 mm2 )(3 × 60 sec) 300 mm

𝑘 = 2.2703 × 10−4 cmΤsec

Sample Problem 7.5. Permeability
The hydraulic conductivity of sand at a void ratio of 0.62 is 0.03 cm/sec. Estimate the hydraulic
conductivity at a void ratio of 0.48.

Solution:
For sandy soils, the relationship between hydraulic conductivity k and the void ratio e is given by:
𝑒3 𝑒3
𝑘∝ → 𝑘=𝐶
1+𝑒 1+𝑒

Estimating the hydraulic conductivity k2 of the same sandy soil at a different void ratio e2:
𝑒23
𝑘2 1 + 𝑒2 𝑒23 1 + 𝑒1 𝑘2 (0.48)3 1 + 0.60
= = ∙ ; = ∙ ; 𝑘 = 0.016605 cmΤsec
𝑘1 𝑒13 1 + 𝑒2 𝑒13 0.03 cmΤsec 1 + 0.48 (0.60)3
1 + 𝑒1

Sample Problem 7.6. Permeability Sieve

Sieve Percent
Opening
The grain size distribution for sand is given in the table below. No.
(mm)
Passing
Estimate the hydraulic conductivity using Cozeny-Karman 30 0.60 100
equation. The void ratio of the soil is 0.6 and use SF = 7. 40 0.425 96
60 0.20 84
100 0.15 50
200 0.075 0

Solution:
The Kozeny-Carman equation is given by:
100% 1 2 𝑒3
𝑘 (cmΤsec) = 1.99 × 104 ∙ ∙൬ ൰ ∙
𝑓
σ 0.404 𝑖 0.595 𝑆𝐹 1+𝑒
𝐷𝑙𝑖 × 𝐷𝑠𝑖
𝑓𝑖
for
𝐷𝑙𝑖0.404 × 𝐷𝑠𝑖0.595
100 − 96
between sieves No. 30 and No. 40: = 81.620
(0.06)0.404 × (0.0425)0.595
96 − 84
between sieves No. 40 and No. 60: = 440.757
(0.0425)0.404× (0.020)0.595
84 − 50
between sieves No. 60 and No. 100: = 2009.502
(0.020)0.404× (0.015)0.595
50 − 0
between sieves No. 100 and No. 200: = 5013.808
(0.015)0.404 × (0.0075)0.595
𝑓𝑖
Therefore: ෍ = 81.620 + 440.757 + 2009.502 + 5013.808 = 7545.687
𝐷𝑙𝑖0.404 × 𝐷𝑠𝑖0.595
100% 1 2 0.603
𝑘 (cmΤsec) = 1.99 × 104 ൬ ൰൬ ൰ ∙ ; 𝑘 = 0.72659 cmΤsec
7545.687 7 1 + 0.60

Sample Problem 7.7. Permeability

Shown in the table are the hydraulic conductivity of a normally Void ratio k (cm/sec)
consolidated clay at void ratios of 1.1 and 0.9, respectively. 1.1 0.302 × 10-7
Estimate the hydraulic conductivity of clay at 0.75 void ratio. 0.9 0.12 × 10-7

Solution:
For clayey soils, the relationship between hydraulic conductivity k and the void ratio e is given by:
𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑛
𝑘∝ → 𝑘=𝐶
1+𝑒 1+𝑒
 Solving for the constant C and n using e1 = 1.1 and e2 = 0.9 with their respective hydraulic
conductivities k1 = 0.302 × 10-7 cm/sec and k2 = 0.12 × 10-7 cm/sec
𝑒2𝑛
𝑘2 𝐶 1 + 𝑒2 𝑒2𝑛 1 + 𝑒1 𝑒2𝑛 1 + 𝑒1 𝑒2 𝑛 1 + 𝑒1
= 𝑛 = ∙ = ∙ = ൬ ൰ ∙
𝑘1 𝑒1 1 + 𝑒2 𝑒1𝑛 𝑒1𝑛 1 + 𝑒2 𝑒1 1 + 𝑒2
𝐶
1 + 𝑒1
0.12 × 10−7 cmΤsec 0.9 𝑛 1 + 1.1
= ൬ ൰ ∙ ; 𝑛 = 5.147
0.302 × 10−7 cmΤsec 1.1 1 + 0.9
𝑒2𝑛 (0.9)5.14726
𝑘2 = 𝐶 ; 0.12 × 10−7 cmΤsec = 𝐶 ∙ ; 𝐶 = 3.92157 × 10−8 cmΤsec
1 + 𝑒2 1 + 0.9

Estimating the hydraulic conductivity k3 at void ratio e3 = 0.75:

𝑒3𝑛 (0.75)5.14726
𝑘3 = 𝐶 = (3.92157 × 10−8 cmΤsec) ∙
1 + 𝑒3 1 + 0.75

𝑘3 = 5.09718 × 10−9 cmΤsec

Sample Problem 7.8. Permeability

Figure shows layers of soils in a tube that is 100 mm
× 100 mm in cross section. Water is supplied to
maintain a constant head difference of 400 mm
across the sample. The hydraulic conductivities of
the soils in the direction of the flow through them are
shown in the table. Determine (a) the hydraulic
conductivity of the soil in cm/sec and (b) the head
loss through soil A

Soil k (cm/sec) Porosity, n

A 1 × 10-2 25%
B 3 × 10-3 32%
C 4.9 × 10-4 22%

Solution:
It can be analyzed in the figure, that the stratification
of soils A, B and C are perpendicular to the direction
of the flow and the head difference as water pass
through these layers is constant at 400 mm.
(a) Equivalent hydraulic conductivity keq of soils A, B
and C:
𝐻 𝐻𝐴 𝐻𝐵 𝐻𝐶
= + +
𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑘𝐴 𝑘𝐵 𝑘𝐶
500 mm 150 mm 150 mm 150 mm
= + +
𝑘𝑒𝑞 1.0 × 10−2 cmΤsec 3.0 × 10−3 cmΤsec 4.9 × 10−4 cmΤsec

𝑘𝑒𝑞 = 1.05672 × 10−3 cmΤsec

(b) Head loss through soil B, hB :
Since the flow is perpendicular to the stratification the discharge velocity the whole layer veq is equal
to the discharge velocity through each layer, that is, veq = vA = vB = vC. Thus, with Darcy’s law:
ℎ ℎ𝐵
𝑣𝑒𝑞 = 𝑣𝐵 → 𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑖𝑒𝑞 = 𝑘𝐵 𝑖𝐵 → 𝑘𝑒𝑞 = 𝑘𝐵
𝐿 𝐿𝐵
400 mm ℎ𝐵
(1.05672 × 10−3 cmΤsec) = (3.0 × 10−3 cmΤsec)
500 mm 150 mm

ℎ𝐵 = 42.2688 mm

Try This. Compute the head loss through soil A, (hA) and soil C, (hC), and see if
ℎ = ℎ𝐴 + ℎ𝐵 + ℎ𝐶

Sample Problem 7.9. Permeability

Given the stratified soil shown with a constant head difference of 1.8 m. Determine the total flow
per meter width and the equivalent coefficient of permeability.
Soil properties:
Coefficient of permeability:
k1 = 6.25 cm/hr; k2 = 5.75 cm/hr;
k3 = 4.50 cm/hr; k4 = 6.25 cm/hr;
k5 = 8.15 cm/hr; k6 = 3.60 cm/hr
Thickness: H = 1.20 m, H3 = 0.30 m,
H4 = 0.50 m, H5 = 0.40 m
Length: L1 = 0.80 m, L2 = 0.70 m,
L3 = 1.50 m, L6 = 0.90 m

Solution:
a) Equivalent coefficient of permeability, keq:
The idealized flow through the soil strata is
shown in Fig. 1. It can be seen that the flow is
parallel to the stratification of soil 3, soil 4 and
soil 5, the equivalent hydraulic conductivity for
these three soils, k3,4,5, is determined as:
𝑘3,4,5 𝐻 = 𝑘3 𝐻3 + 𝑘4 𝐻4 + 𝑘5 𝐻5 Fig. 1

𝑘3,4,5 (1.2 m) = (4.5 cmΤhr) (0.3 m) + (6.25 cmΤhr) (0.5 m) + (8.15 cmΤhr) (0.4 m)
𝑘3,4,5 = 6.44583 cmΤhr
Soil 3, soil 4 and soil 5, can now be represented
by a soil with an equivalent hydraulic conductivity
of k3,4,5 and the idealized flow is shown in Fig. 2.
With this configuration, the flow is perpendicular
to the four layers of soil and the equivalent
hydraulic conductivity, keq, of the whole strata is
determined as:
𝐿 𝐿1 𝐿2 𝐻𝐶
= + +
𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑘1 𝑘2 𝑘𝐶
Fig. 2
3.9 m 0.8 m 0.7 m 1.5 m 0.9 m
= + + +
𝑘𝑒𝑞 6.25 cmΤhr 5.75 cmΤhr 6.44583 cmΤhr 3.60 cmΤhr
𝑘𝑒𝑞 = 5.32461 cmΤhr
b) Total flow per meter width, q:
ℎ 1 m width
𝑞 = 𝑘𝑒𝑞 𝑖𝑒𝑞 𝐴 = 𝑘𝑒𝑞 ൬𝐻 × ൰
𝐿 1 m width
1.8 m 1 m width
𝑞 = (0.0532461 mΤhr) ൬ ൰ ൬1.2 m × ൰
3.9 m 1 m width

𝑞 = 0.02949 m3 ΤhrΤm

Sample Problem 7.10. Permeability

Consider a case of pumping from a well in
an unconfined permeable layer underlain
by an impermeable stratum.
q = 26 ft3/min
h1 = 18.0 ft at r1 = 200 ft
h2 = 15.7 ft at r2 = 100 ft
Calculate the hydraulic conductivity of the
permeable layer.

Solution:
a) Hydraulic conductivity of the unconfined permeable layer, k:
𝑞 𝑟1 26 ft 3 Τmin 200 ft
𝑘= 2 2 ln 𝑟 = 𝜋[(18 ft)2 − (15.7 ft)2 ∙ ln 100 ft
𝜋(ℎ1 − ℎ2 ) 2

𝑘 = 0.07401 ftΤmin

Sample Problem 7.11. Permeability

An aquifer with an average thickness of 20 m is overlain by an impermeable layer 30 m thick. A test
well 0.5 m in diameter and two observation wells at a distance of 10 m and 60 m from the test well
are drilled through the aquifer. After pumping 0.10 m 3/sec for a long time, the following drawdowns
are stabilized in these wells. First observation well, 4 m, and second observation well, 3m.
Determine the hydraulic conductivity and the drawdown in the test well.

Solution:
a) Hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer, k:
𝑞 𝑟1 𝑞 𝑟1
𝑘= ln = ln
2𝜋𝐻(ℎ1 − ℎ2 ) 𝑟2 2𝜋𝐻(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ) 𝑟2
0.10 m3 Τsec 60 m
𝑘= ∙ ln
2𝜋(20 𝑚)[4 m − 3 m] 10 m

𝑘 = 1.42584 × 10−3 mΤsec = 0.14258 cmΤsec

b) Drawdown in the test well, ztw:

𝑞 𝑟𝑡𝑤 𝑞 𝑟1
𝑘= ln = ln
2𝜋𝐻(𝑧𝑡𝑤 − 𝑧1 ) 𝑟2 2𝜋𝐻(𝑧𝑡𝑤 − 𝑧1 ) 𝑑 Τ2
m 0.10 m3 Τsec 60 m
1.42584 × 10−3 = ∙ ln
sec 2𝜋(20 𝑚)[𝑧𝑡𝑤 − 3 m] 0.25 m
𝑧𝑡𝑤 = 6.0588 m