PERMEABILITY AND SEEPAGE

Chapter 4

Bernoulli’s equation:

2
u v
h   Z
w 2g
Elevation head

Pressure head Velocity head

1
 Piezometric level

2
u v
h   Z
w 2g

ignored

Head Loss:

h  hA  hB

Hydraulic gradient
h    ZA     ZB
uA uB
h  w   w 
i 
L

2
Most soils can be considered to
have laminar flow except
fractured rock, stones, gravels
and coarse sands (turbulent)

Darcy’s Law: Coef. permeability

v  k i
Discharged velocity

3
Coefficient of Permeability, k (geologist = hydraulic conductivity)

w 
Absolute permeability
k  K


Viscosity of water

4
Why do we want to know coefficient of permeability, k?

5
Lab Tests

Constant-Head Test
Volume of water collected
Q L
k 
A h t Length of sample

time

Area of cross-section

• Suitable for coarse-grained soils (high k)

6
Lab Tests
a
Falling-Head Test

 log 
a L h1 
k  2.303 
A t  h2 

• Suitable for fine-grained soils

7
Effect of temperature of water on k

k20C     kTC
TC

 20C 

8
Empirical Relations for k

For loose, clean sand:

k (cm/sec) = cD102 c = constant (1.0 – 1.5)

For medium-clean sand:

k = at void ratio, e
k = 1.4e2k0.85
k0.85 = at void ratio of 0.85

For sandy soil:

k = C2D102.32Cu0.6 e3 C2 = constant
1+e
For normally consolidated clay:

k = C3 en C3 and n = constant (experiment)

1+e

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Equivalent permeability

 
1
k   k
 H1  k  H2  k  H3  k  Hn
H( eq) H H1 H2 H3 Hn

Parallel with soil layers

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 H
k 
V( eq)
 H1    H2    H3     Hn 
k  k  k  k 
 V1   V2   V3   Vn 

Across soil layers

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Permeability Test in Field by pumping from Wells

 r1 
10 
2.303 q  log
k 
 
r2 q = rate of flow

   h    h  
2 2
 1 2 

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 
q  log  
r1 
10 r2 
k 

2.727 H h  h
1 
2

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Coefficient of Permeability from Auger Holes (slug tests)


k  
40   r   y 
   y    t 
  20     2   
L y
 r  L 

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