CE-412

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING I

SOIL MECHANICS

LAB 12: Hydraulic Conductivity

Report Date: December 22, 2017

T.A: Engr. Erwin D. Cabral

Lab Group: 3

Lab Members:

Alano, Aldin Z.

Albuera, Queency Lovely C.

Alcantara, Jora Marie H.

Delen, Edriel Royce P.

Laylo, Angelika Joy E.

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I. ABSTRACT

Hydraulic conductivity of soil is a measure of its ability to transmit water when submitted

to a hydraulic gradient. Falling head test is one of the two methods that can be used to identify

the hydraulic conductivity of soil. The materials used for determination of hydraulic conductivity

are combined constant head and faling head apparatus, porous stones, graduated cylinder, beaker,

sieve # 200, representative sand, pale and balance. 1.0053x10-3 cm/s is the average hydraulic

conductivity of the sand sample for the Constant Falling Method. The sand used is classified as a

fine one. The grain size, shape and distribution of the foundry sand, the type and quantity of

bonding materials, the density which the sand is rammed, and the percentage of moisture used

for tampering the sand are important factors in regulating the degree of permeability and should

be considered in conducting the experiment.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………ii

II. OBJECTIVES……………………………………………………………….…..1

III. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND………………………….………………..1

IV. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT………………………………..…………..2

V. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE……………………………..………………2

VI. ANALYSIS OF DATA……………………………………….….……………..2

VII. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS……………………………..….……………….3

VIII. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS…………..……………......3

IX. REFERENCES…………………………………………………...…………….3

X. APPENDICES……………………………………………………...……...…….4
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LIST OF TABLES & FIGURES

TABLE 1: RESULT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY USING CONSTANT

FALLING METHOD.........................................................……………………………2
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II. OBJECTIVES

The laboratory aimed to determine the discharge in the apparatus to be used in the

computation. And using falling head test, hydraulic conductivity will be determined and

calculated.

III. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Falling head test is used for less pervious soils, such as fine sands to fat clays. The test is

similar to the constant-head test as it measures the amount of water passing through a sample of

the material. The difference is that the head of water is not maintained constant but is permitted

to fall. It also uses a standpipe to introduce water into the sample. Therefore the coefficient of

permeability is:

𝑎𝐿 ℎ1
𝐾 = 2.303 log10
𝐴𝑡 ℎ2

where K = hydraulic conductivity of the soil (cm/s)

a = inside area of the standpipe (cm2)

L = length of the specimen (cm)

A = cross-sectional area of the specimen (cm2)

t = interval of time it took for the water to fall (s)

h1 = initial height in the standpipe (cm)

h2 = final height in the standpipe (cm)

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IV. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

The materials used for determination of hydraulic conductivity are Combined Constant

Head and Falling Head Apparatus, graduated cylinder, beaker, porous stone, sieve # 200, sand ,

pale and balance.

V. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

For the determination of hydraulic conductivity using Falling Head Method, repeat steps

from constant head test. Close the base valve. Then, remove the top tube from the permeameter

and connect the manometer tube to the top valve making sure there are no air bubbles in the tube.

Air should enter the permeameter, use the bleed valve on the top to expel any air at the top of the

chamber. Allow water to flow through the specimen until a constant flow condition is observed.

Fill the manometer to the top graduation and record the height of the water above the chamber

outflow port and date and time. Lastly, calculate the coefficient of permeability.

VI. ANALYSIS OF DATA

Using the formula discussed on the theory for each method, the hydraulic conductivity of

the three trials is computed.

Table 1

Result of Hydraulic Conductivity using Constant Falling Method

Trial No. 1 2 3

Length of Specimen (cm) 12 12 12

Cross – sectional area of Specimen 63.617 63.617 63.617

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Beginning Head Difference, h1

68.4 56.6 42.4
(cm)

Ending Head Difference, h2 (cm) 56.6 42.4 24

Elapsed Time (s) 60 60 60

Hydraulic Conductivity, k (cm/s) 4.644x10-4 7.0846x10-4 1.8429x10-3

Average K = 1.0053x10-3 cm/sec

VII. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

For the Constant Falling Method, the calculated hydraulic conductivity of the first,

second, and third trials are: 4.644x10-4, 7.0846x10-4 and 1.8429x10-3, respectively. The

average value of the three trials is 1.0053x10-3 cm/s.

VIII. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Hydraulic conductivity describes the rate of flow through a porous medium under some

energy potential, or a change in total head from one point to another. 1.0053x10-3 cm/s is the

average hydraulic conductivity of the sand sample for the Constant Falling Method. It can be

concluded that based on the permeability range of values, the sand used is a fine one.

IX. REFERENCES

http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/dp/downloads/DPHS_Soil_Permeability_Guidance_2013.pd

http://sesl.com.au/blog/soil-permeability-and-how-to-measure-it/

http://cemmlab.webhost.uic.edu/Experiment%2010-Permeability.pdf
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manual/FALLING_HEAD_PERMEABILITY_TEST_lab_manual.pdf

Das, Braja M. Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering.Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd.

X. APPENDICES

Computations

Falling Head Test

k = 2.303 aL/At log10(h1/h2)

= (2.303 (0.78x12)) / (63.617x60) log 68.4 / 56.6

k = 1.0053x10-3 cm/s

DOCUMENTATION