CE215 GEOTECHNICAL LAB

PERMEABILITY TEST
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the permeability of a soil specimen.

THEORY:
The soil permeability is a measure indicating the capacity of the soil or rock
to allow fluids to pass through the interconnected pores between the soil
particles. It is often represented by the permeability coefficient (k). The rate
of flow under laminar flow conditions through a unit cross sectional are of
porous medium under unit hydraulic gradient is defined as coefficient of
permeability. In one dimension, water flows through a fully saturated soil in
accordance with Darcys empirical law:
q= Aki ; k =

q
Ai

q : Volume of water flowing per unit time

A : Cross-sectional area of soil sample
i : Hydraulic gradient
The units of the coefficient of permeability are those of velocity (m/s) though
commonly used units are cm/s. Factors affecting permeability of soils are:
a) Particle size : k is directly proportional to square of particle size.
b) Void ratio (e) : Higher the value of e, higher the coefficient of
permeability.
c) Degree of saturation : If the soil is not fully saturated, it contains air
pockets, so the permeability is reduced. Consequently,
the permeability of a partially saturated soil is considerably smaller
than that of fully saturated soil.
d) It also depends on temperature upon which the viscosity of water
depends.
Typical Values of coefficient of permeability are:
TYPE OF SOIL
Gravel

VALUE OF PERMEABILITY (cm/s)

103 to 1.0

Sand
Silt
Clay

1.0 to 10-3
10-3 to 10-6
Less than 10-6

According to U.S Bureau of Reclamations, soils are classified as follows:

Impervious
Semi-Pervious
Pervious

k less than 10-6 cm/s

k between 10-6 to 10-4 cm/s
k greater than 10-4 cm/s

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Permeameter with all accessories (according to IS: 11209).

Compaction equipment (Standard Proctor).
Constant head water supply.
Stand pipe for falling water supply.
Measuring jar.
Stop watch
Weighing balance.
Filter paper

REFERENCE CODE: IS: 2720 (Part 36) and (Part 17)

PROCEDURE:
a. Constant Head Method:
1. Calculate the volume of the Permeameter mould by measuring its
dimensions.
2. Take approximately 2.5 to 3.0 kg of soil, sufficient to fill the mould. Mix
the specimen soil with some water to achieve desired water content.
3. Assemble the solid metal plate, base plate, permeameter mould and
collar, and compact the soil into the mould to achieve desired
compaction state.
4. After filling the mould with the compacted soil remove the collar.
5. De-assemble the apparatus and replace the solid metal plate with a
porous stone. Place another porous stone on top of the mould and
position the top plate. Take care in case of coarse sands and gravels
during porous stone replacement.
6. After fixing complete setup, saturate the sample from bottom outlet
avoiding piping to take place.

7. After complete removal of air voids, close the bottom outlet and the air
valve and transfer the inlet water connection to top plate nozzle.
8. Open all the water paths and maintain required constant head (h)
according to required hydraulic gradient.
9. To assure the constant flow of water through sample, measure the
discharge (Q). Equal amounts of discharge in equal time intervals
confirm the constant flow.
10.
After establishing constant flow measure the discharge (Q) in
specified time interval (t).
11.
Calculate the permeability of the soil specimen using head of
water, the diameter of the permeameter mould and the height of the
sample.
12.

k = Q/itA (cm/s)
Measure the discharge at different constant head or time

intervals and determine the permeability in each case. Average of the

permeability values shall be reported as the permeability of the soil
specimen.

OBSERVATIONS:
Diameter of mould (D): 6 cm
Height of mould/sample (l): 7.4 cm
Cross sectional area of mould (A): 28.27 cm2
Volume (V): 209.23 cm3
S.No
.

Constant
Head (h
cm)

Gradient

Discharge

(i=h/l)

(Q ml.)

Time
Interval (t
sec)

k = Q/itA
(cm/s)

1.

182.9

24.72

18

11.23

2.294 * 10-3

2.

182.9

24.72

26

18.68

1.992 * 10-3

3.

182.9

24.72

32

20.31

2.254 * 10-3

4.

182.9

24.72

40

24.96

2.293 * 10-3

5.

182.9

24.72

24

15.66

2.193 * 10-3

Average k (cm/s)

b. Falling Head Method:

1. Follow the steps 1 to 8 of the constant head method.

2.205 * 10-3

2. Measure the diameter of the stand pipe which is connected to the inlet.
3. Assure constant flow of water by measuring equal amounts of water
fall in equal time intervals.
4. After establishing constant flow, measure the head fall in specified
time interval.
5. Calculate the permeability of given soil specimen as below:
2.303 al
h1
log ( ) cm/s
k=
At
h2

6. Note the initial and final heads in the stand pipe for different time
intervals and determine the permeability in each case and average
value of permeability.

OBSERVATIONS:
Diameter of mould (D): 6 cm
Cross sectional area of mould (A): 28.27 cm2
Length of sample (l): 7.4 cm
Diameter of stand pipe (d): 7.4 cm
Cross sectional area of stand pipe (a): 43.01 cm2

S.No

Initial Head

Final Head

Time

(h1 cm)

(h2 cm)

(t sec.)

1.

166.9

161.9

95.94

Log(h1/h2)
0.0132

2.

160.9

155.9

146.04

0.0137

3.

155.9

150.9

151.12

0.0142

4.
5.

150.9
145.9

145.9
140.9

163.75
154.96

0.0146
0.0151
Average k (cm/s)

k
(cm/s)
3.569 * 103

2.434 * 103

2.428 * 103

2.311 * 103

2.526 * 103

2.654 * 103

CONSTANT HEAD TEST

FALLING HEAD TEST

RESULTS:
The (average) coefficient of permeability by
a) Constant Head Method: k = 2.205 * 10-3 cm/s
b) Falling Head Method:
k = 2.654 * 10-3 cm/s

DISCUSSIONS:
1. The obtained results indicate that the soil sample used is sand (k is
between 1.0 and 10-3 cm/s) and is pervious (k is greater than 10-4
cm/s).
2. Constant head test is more suitable for coarse-grained soils than
variable head test (more suitable for clay and silts). Thus the result
obtained by constant head test is more preferable. Moreover, the
individual values of k vary significantly in variable head test, where as
in constant head test, values are more precise.
3. Sources of error:
a) Possible leaks or joints may have been overlooked
b) Soil may not have been completely compacted or saturated before
performing the experiment.
c) The water used in the experiment may have impurities which block
the flow of water through voids.

d) High heads may lead to turbulent flow of water.

REFERENCES:
1. Permeability Lab Manual
2. Craigs Soil Mechanics R.L. Craig (7th Edition)
3. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopaedia (Permeability of Soils)