Permeability

of Soil
PREPARED BY:
ENGR. DARWIN E. MANALO
FIRST SEMESTER, 2024-2025
Topic overview
Bernouli’s Equation
Darcy’s Law
Hydraulic Conductivity
Laboratory Determination of
Hydraulic Conductivity
Constant Head Test
Falling Head Test
Introduction
Soils are permeable due to the existence
of interconnected voids through which
water can flow from points of high
energy to points of low energy. The study
of the flow of water through permeable
soil media is important in soil mechanics.

This properties of soil which permits the

water or any liquid to flow through it
through its voids is called PERMEABILITY.
IMPORTANCE
 IMPORTANCE
1 2 3
For estimating the For investigating For making
quantity of problems involving stability analysis of
underground the pumping of earth dams and
seepage under water for earth-retaining
various hydraulic underground structures that are
conditions construction subject to
seepage forces.
 Bernoulli’s Equation
From fluid mechanics, we know that, according to Bernoulli’s
equation, the total head at a point in water under motion can be
given by the sum of the pressure, velocity, and elevation heads, or

Note that the elevation head, Z, is the vertical distance of a given

point above or below a datum plane. The pressure head is the water
pressure, u, at that point divided by the unit weight of water, γw.
Bernoulli’s Equation
Figure 35 shows the relationship
among pressure, elevation, and total
heads for the flow of water through
soil. Open standpipes called
piezometers are installed at points A
and B. The levels to which water
rises in the piezometer tubes
situated at points A and B are known
as the piezometric levels of points A
and B, respectively. The pressure
head at a point is the height of the
vertical column of water in the
piezometer installed at that point.
 Bernoulli’s Equation
The loss of head between two points, A and B, can be given by

The head loss, Δh, can be expressed in a non-dimensional form as,

Where:
i = hydraulic gradient
L = distance between points A and B, that is, the
length of flow over which the loss of head
occurred.
 Bernoulli’s Equation
In general, the variation of the velocity v with the hydraulic
gradient i is as shown in Figure 36. This figure is divided into
three zones:

1. Laminar flow zone

(Zone I)
2. Transition zone
(Zone II)
3. Turbulent flow zone
(Zone III)
 Darcy’s Law
In 1856, Darcy published a simple equation for the discharge
velocity of water through saturated soils, which may be
Where:
expressed as
v = discharge velocity, which is the quanity of water
flowing in unit time through a unit gross cross-sectional
area of soil at right angles to the direction of flow
k = hydraulic conductivity (otherwise known as
coefficient of permeability)

This equation was based primarily on Darcy’s observations about

the flow of water through clean sands. Note that this equation is
valid for laminar flow conditions and applicable for a wide
range of soils.
 Darcy’s Law
In the equation given, v is the discharge velocity of water based
on the gross cross-sectional area of the soil. However, the
actual velocity of water (that is, the seepage velocity) through
the void spaces is greater than v. A relationship between the
discharge velocity and the seepage velocity can be derived by
referring to Figure 37, which shows a soil of length L with a gross
cross-sectional area A. If the quantity of water flowing through
the soil in unit time is q, then
Where
Darcy’s Law
vs = seepage velocity
Av = area of void in the cross section of the specimen
However, A = Av + As
Av = area of voids in cross sectional area of specimen
As = area of soil solid in cross sectional area.
 Hydraulic Conductivity
Hydraulic conductivity is generally expressed in cm/sec or m/sec in SI units and in
ft/min or ft/day in English units.

The hydraulic conductivity of soils depends on several factors: fluid viscosity, poresize
distribution, grain-size distribution, void ratio, roughness of mineral particles, and
degree of soil saturation. In clayey soils, structure plays an important role in hydraulic
conductivity. Other major factors that affect the permeability of clays are the ionic
concentration and the thickness of layers of water held to the clay particles.

The value of hydraulic conductivity (k) varies widely for different soils. Some typical
values for saturated soils are given in Table 10. The hydraulic conductivity of
unsaturated soils is lower and increases rapidly with the degree of saturation.
Hydraulic Conductivity
 Hydraulic Conductivity
The hydraulic conductivity (k) of a soil is also related to the
properties of the fluid flowing through it by the equation,

The absolute permeability K is expressed in units of L2 (that is, cm2 ,

ft2 , and so forth).
 Laboratory Determination of
Hydraulic Conductivity
Constant Head Test
A typical arrangement of the constant-head permeability
test is shown in Figure 39. In this type of laboratory setup,
the water supply at the inlet is adjusted in such a way that
the difference of head between the inlet and the outlet
remains constant during the test period. After a constant
flow rate is established, water is collected in a graduated
flask for a known duration.
Laboratory Determination of
Hydraulic Conductivity
The total volume of water collected may
be expressed as ,
 Laboratory Determination of
Hydraulic Conductivity
Falling Head Test
A typical arrangement of the falling-head permeability test
is shown in Figure 40. Water from a standpipe flows through
the soil. The initial head difference h1 at time t = 0 is
recorded, and water is allowed to flow through the soil
specimen such that the final head difference at time t = t2
is h2.
Laboratory Determination of
Hydraulic Conductivity
The rate of flow of the water through the
specimen at any time t can be given by,
 Sample
Problems
Problem 1:
For falling-head permeability test, the following
are given: length of specimen = 15 in., area of
specimen = 3 in.2 , and k = 0.0688 in./min. What
should be the area of the standpipe for the head
to drop from 25 to 12 in. in 8 min.?
Problem 2:
In a laboratory, a constant - head permeability test
is performed on a sample of granular soil. The
length of the soil sample is 15 cm and the cross
sectional area is 10cm2. if a 24ml volume of water
passes through the soil sample in a 3 minute period,
compute the coefficient of permeability if the
difference in head is 30 cm.
 Equivalent Hydraulic
Conductivity in Stratified Soil
In a stratified soil deposit where the hydraulic conductivity for flow
in a given direction changes from layer to layer, an equivalent
hydraulic conductivity can be computed to simplify calculations.
The following derivations relate to the equivalent hydraulic
conductivities for flow in vertical and horizontal directions through
multilayered soils with horizontal stratifification.
 Equivalent Hydraulic
Conductivity in Stratified Soil
Figure 43 shows n layers of soil with flow in the horizontal direction.
 Equivalent Hydraulic
Conductivity in Stratified Soil
Figure 43 shows n layers of soil with flow in the horizontal direction.
 Equivalent Hydraulic
Conductivity in Stratified Soil
Layers of soil with flow in the vertical direction.
 Equivalent Hydraulic
Conductivity in Stratified Soil
Layers of soil with flow in the vertical direction.

Ratio of equivalent hydraulic conductivity,

 Sample
Problems
Problem 3:
A layered soil is shown in Figure,

Given:
•H1 = 1.5 m k1 = 9x10-4 cm/sec
•H2= 2.5 m k2 = 7.8x10-4 cm/sec
•H3= 3.5 m k3 = 4.5x10-4 cm/sec

Estimate the ratio of equivalent

permeability.
Problem 4:
An impervious layer underlies 4 layers of permeable soil. The thickness
and the coefficient of permeability of each layer, from top to bottom,
are :

A. Determine the equivalent horizontal coefficient of permeability of

the deposit in cm/sec.
B. Find the flow rate in cm3/sec, if i=0.70.
C. Evaluate the discharge of the aquifer in m3/day
Permeability Test in the Field
by Pumping from Wells.
Lesson Content:
Pumping from Unconfined Aquifer
Pumping from Confined Aquifer
Sample Problems
 Permeability Test in the Field
There are numerous methods through which we an measure the
permeability of a soil in the field or of a representative sample in
the laboratory.
permeability of the soil in its deposits is highly influenced by its
natural structural factors such as non-homogeneity (anisotropic)
and stratification. So its not possible to take out a soil sample
which may represent the true in-situ structure of soil to be used in
laboratory. Also for coarse grained soil, in which permeability
values are very significant, it is very difficult to obtain undisturbed
sample.
Permeability Test in the Field
 Permeability Test in the Field
So to deal with such problems and to obtain a near accurate
value of permeability we perform field test on soil mass.
Usually pumping out test is conducted for the purpose. We
perform these test for large engineering projects because these
tests are very expensive.
 Permeability Test in the Field
In the field, the average hydraulic conductivity of a soil deposit in
the direction of flow can be determined by performing pumping
test from wells. The ground water from the aquifer can be easily
pumped out.
An aquifer is an underground layer of water bearing permeable
rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand or
silt). Groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water
well(s).
Permeability Test in the Field
 Permeability Test in the Field
In the nature we usually encounter two kinds of aquifer:
1. Unconfined Aquifer
2. Confined Aquifer
 Permeability Test in the Field
Transmissivity or Transmissibility, T
The ability of an aquifer to transmit water through its entire
thickness.
T = kH, where k is the hydraulic conductivity and H is the thickness
of the aquifer.

Time t required for water to travel a distance d through aquifer:

t = d/vs, where vs is the seepage velocity.
Pumping from an unconfined aquifer
Figure 7.22 shows a case where the top permeable layer, whose
hydraulic conductivity has to be determined, is unconfined and underlain
by a permeable layer.
During the test, water is pumped out at a constant rate from a test well
that has a perforated casing.
Several observation wells at various radial distances are made around
the test well.
Continuous observations of the water level in the test well and in the
observation wells are made after the start of pumping, untl a steady
state is reached. The stead state is established when the water level in
the test and observation wells becomes conatant.
Pumping from an unconfined aquifer
Pumping from an unconfined aquifer
Pumping from an unconfined aquifer
The expression for the rate of flow of groundwater into the well, which is
equal to the rate of discharge from pumping, can be written as
Pumping from an unconfined aquifer

From field measurement if q, r1, r2, h1 and h2 are known, the

hydraulic conductivity can be calculated from the simple
relationship as shown in th equation.
 Pumping from an confined aquifer
The average hydraulic conductivity for a confined aquifer can also be
determined by conducting a pumping test from a well with a perforated
casing that penetrates the full depth of the aquifer and by observing the
piezometric level in a number of observation wells at various radial
distances (figure 7. 24). Pumping s continued at a unform rate q until a
steady state is reached.
Pumping from an confined aquifer
 Pumping from an confined aquifer
Because water can enter the test well only from the aquifer of thickness
H, the stead state of discharge is:
 Pumping from an confined aquifer

From field measurement if q, r1, r2, h1, h2 and H are known, the hydraulic
conductivity can be calculated from the simple relationship as shown in
th equation.
 Permeability Test in the Field
COMPARISON

UNCONFINED AQUIFER CONFINED AQUIFER

 Sample
Problems
Problem 5:
A certain 20m. thick sandy aquifer has a transmissivity of 0.12 m2/sec
and a void ratio of 0.91/ Ground water is flowing through this aquifer
with a hydraulic gradient of 0.0065.
Compute the hydraulic conductivity of the sand aquifer.
Compute the seepage velocity.
How much time would be required for water to travel 1km through
this aquifer, in day?
Problem 6:
A 300 mm diameter test well penetrates 27 m below the static water
table. After 24 hours of pumping at 69 liters/sec, the water level in an
observation well at a distance of 95 m from the test well is lowered
0.5 m and the other observation well at a distance of 35 m from the
test well, the drawdown is 1.1 m.
What is the rate flow in m3/day?
Compute the coefficient of permeability of the aquifer in m/day.
Problem 7:
A pumping test from a confined aquifer yielded the following results:
q=0.303 m3/min, h1=2.44 m, h2=1.52 m , r1=18.3 m, r2=9.15 m and
H=3.05 m. Determine the magnitude of hydraulic conductivity of
permeable layer in cm/sec.
Problem 8:
A well is constructed to pump water from a confined aquifer. Two
observation wells are constructed at distances of 100 m and 1000 m
respectively. Water is pump from the pumping well at a rate of 0.2
m3/min. At steady state, the draw down is observed as 2 m and 8 m
respectively in the farthest and the nearest observation wells.
Diameter of the test well is 1 m. The thickness of the aquifer is 20 m.
Determine the hydraulic conductivity in cm/sec.
Determine the transmissivity in cm2/sec.
Determine the draw down in the test well.
THANK
YOU