1.

0 INTRODUCTION

In the design of engineering projects, one of the most important soil properties of interest to
the soils engineer is permeability. To some degree, permeability will play a role in the design of
almost any structure. For example, the durability of concrete is related to its permeability. In designs
that make use of earthen materials (soils and rock) the permeability of these material swill usually be
of great importance.
Soils are permeable (water may flow through them) because they consist not only of solid
particles, but a network of interconnected pores. The degree to which soils are permeable depends
upon a number of factors,such as soil type,grain size distribution and soil history. This degree of
permeability is characterized by the coefficient of permeability.

A number of different methods for determining the coefficient of permeability for soils
exist, for soils exist, including in-situ methods and laboratory methods. In the laboratory,two
common tests are generally used to determine this soil property.These two tests are the falling head
permeability test and the constant head permeability test. Which test is used depends upon the type
of soil to be tested. For soils of high permeability (sands and gravels) a constant head test is used.
For soils of intermediate to low permeability, a falling head test is used. As we were testing
sand we used a constant head permeability test.

By carrying out the constant head permeability test we can determine the coefficients of
permeability of given sand over range of unit weights. During the test we can observe the
phenomenon of piping.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

To determine permeability of sands and gravels containing little or no silt.

3.0 THEORY

The most common permeability cell (permeameter) is 75mm in diameter and is intended
for sands containing particles up to about 5mm. A larger cell, 114mm, can be used for testing sands
containing particles up to about 10mm, i.e. medium gravel size. As a general rule the ratio of the
cell diameter to the diameter of the largest size of particle in significant quantity should be at least
12. The constant head permeability cell is intended for testing disturbed granular soils which are
 recompacted into the cell, either by using a specified compactive effort, or to achieve a certain dry
density, i.e. void ratio.

In the constant head test, water is made to flow through a column of soil under the
application of a pressure difference which remains constant, i.e. under a constant head. The amount
of water passing through the soil in a known time is measured, and the permeability of the sample
is calculated by using Equation (1).

If the connections to the cell are arranged so that water flows upwards through the
sample, the critical hydraulic gradient can be determined after measuring the steady state
permeability, and the effects of instability (boiling and piping) can be observed. It is important that
use only air-free water, and measures for preventing air bubbling out of solution during these tests is
very crucial.

QL
Permeability, k m / s ………..Eqn (1)
Aht

Where: Q = quantity of water,

A = area of sample,

h = head difference/ head loss

L = lenght of sample

t= time taken

5.0 APPARATUS
Figure 1: Permeameter cells for
constant head test:
 6.0 PROCEDURES

1. Run test

a. Turn on the supply of de-aired water to the constant head device, which be at a low
level initially,

b. Open water supply valve that connect it to the cell, and the base outlet cock

c. Allow water to flow through the sample until the conditions appear to be steady and
the water levels in the manometer tubes remain stationary

d. Adjust valve on the supply line to the constant head device so that there is a
continuous small overflow; if this is excessive, the de-aired water will be wasted.

e. To start a test run, empty the measuring cylinder and start the timer at the instant the
measuring cylinder is placed under the outlet overflow.

f. Record the clock time at which the first run is started.

g. Read the levels of the water in the manometer tubus (h1, h2, etc) and measure the
water temperature (TC) in the outlet reservoir.

h. When the level in the cylinder reaches a predetermined mark (such as 50ml or

200ml) stop the clock, record the elapsed time to the nearest half second,
2. Repeat test
 7.0 RESULTS

Soil Sample Data

Diameter of sample,D (cm) 7.6
Cross-sectional area of sample,A (m2) 4.54x10-3
Length of sample,L1 (cm) 6.5
Length of sample,L2 (cm) 6.3
Length of sample,L3 (cm) 14.5

Height of Water in Tubes at Steady State

Height of water in tube 1, H1 (cm) 61
Height of water in tube 1, H2 (cm) 55
Height of water in tube 1, H3 (cm) 45.9

Quantity Time Headloss, Headloss, Headloss, Coefficient of Permeability, k (m/s)

of water taken, t h1 (m) h2 (m) h3 (m)
Q (m3) (sec) k1 k2 k3 Average

3x10-4 14 0.61 0.55 0.459 5.03x10-4 5.41x10-4 1.49x10-3 8.45x10-4

8.0 DATA ANALYSIS
Sample area,

 (0.076) 2
A=
4

=4.54x10-3 m2

Rate of flow,

q = 390 ml/min

= 390 ml/min x 1 lit/1000ml x 1 m3/1000 lit x 1 min/60sec

= 6.500 x 10-6 m3/s

Permeability,

(3 104 )(0.065)
k1 =
(4.54 103 )(0.61)(14)
 =5.03x10-4 m/s

Permeability,

(3 104 )(0.063)
k2 =
(4.54 103 )(0.55)(14)

=5.41x10-4 m/s

Permeability,

(3 104 )(0.063)
k3 =
(4.54 103 )(0.55)(14)

= 1.49x10-3 m/s
 q=Q/t

1/√t
9.0 DISCUSSION

The value of the k (permeability) that we get is 3.050 x 10-6 m/s. This value we get by

using the formula k =(QL)/(Aht). So, the permeability of this sample is moderate. This is because
the porosity of sand and gravel is high or moderate where by water can flows through the soil with
less resistance. It can drain water easily but hardly can retain any water.

The greater pore size of soil is more permeability then the soil with smaller pore size. From value
of k, we can clasify the type of soil that we use is silty sands or silty clays and this types of soil is not
suitable for drainage system.Table 1 shows the range of average values for k for various soil and
also indicates potential drainage.

The coefficient of 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:

a) The porosity of the soil.

b) The particle-size distribution.

c) The shape and orientation of soil particles.

d) The degree of saturation/presence of air.

e) The type of cation and thickness of adsorbed layers associated with clay mineral.
f) The viscosity of the soil water, which varies with temperature.
10.0 CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, we get the time is found to be constant at volume of water. The time we
get is faster. This is because the permeability of the gravel soil absorbs the water is low. This
gravel soil has a large molecular space. Therefore, the water diffusion rate is low. It appears to be
a function of three factors for a constant paste amount and character: effective air void content,
effective void size and drain down. From the coefficient of permeability for the given sample of
soil value, we can say that the rate of flow the sample has get the value higher.

11.0 REFERENCE

i. http://www.slideshare.net/xakikazmi/constant-head.

ii. http://www.essayclub.com/term-papers/Constant-Head-Permeability-Test/8024.html