Guide Questions:

1. What is the purpose of the constant head

permeability test?

The purpose of the constant head permeability

test is to determine the coefficient of permeability of
soil sample.

2. What is the smallest value of permeability

coefficient that can be measured in the constant head

permeability test? What other test do you apply to the

soils of smaller permeability?

The smallest value that can be obtained in

constant head permeability test is a permeability
coefficient of about 10 x -3 cm/s. Falling head test is
another test applied to the soils with smaller
permeability.

3. Is the permeability coefficient of sands influenced

by their void ratio? What is the trend?

 The permeability coefficient of sands is
influenced by the void ratio since they are directly
proportional.

4. Can you give a relation that accounts for

permeability change versus void ratio?

The permeability change and void ratio have a

directly proportional relationship, thus, if the void
ratio increases the permeability also increases.

5. Why do you use de-aired water instead of tap water

for the permeability test?

De-aired water is mostly used instead of tap water

for permeability test so that air bubbles would not
form in the pipe thus preventing errors.

6. How do you remove air from water?

The air from water can be removed in two ways:

first is by boiling the water and then cooling it
afterwards in a vacuum-sealed vessel, second is by
means of a de-airing tank.

7. Does the measurement of permeability increase or

decrease with the air content of the test water?

 It does increase, the permeability increases with
the air content of the test water.

8. What technique do you use to get a loose specimen of

sand in the permeameter cell?

A special technique is used to get a loose specimen

of sand in the permeameter cell is called the dry
pluviation method where the loose specimen of sand is
obtained with the use of a funnel and a flexible nozzle.

9. Does the permeability coefficient increase or

decrease with water temperature? Why?

The permeability coefficient increase with water

temperature. This is because an increase or decrease in
water temperature affects the viscosity of the water
which in turn influences the permeability coefficient of
the water.
Discussion

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. Permeability is

the parameter to characterize the ability of soil to

water to flow through its pores or voids. Permeability

depends on the following factors: the size of the soil

grains, the properties of pore fluids, the void ratio of

the soil, the shapes and arrangement of pores and the

degree of saturation.

The constant head permeability test is a common

laboratory testing method used to determine the

permeability of granular soils like sands and gravels

containing little or no silt. This testing method is made

for testing reconstituted or disturbed granular soil

samples. This test method covers the determination of

the coefficient of permeability, by constant head

method for the laminar flow of water, through

granular soils.

Applications that shows the importance of

permeability in geotechnical design include:

permeability influences the rate of settlement of a

saturated soil under load, the design of earth dams is

very much based upon the permeability of the soils

used, the stability of slopes and retaining structures

can be greatly affected by the permeability of the

soils involved, and filters made of soils are designed

based upon their permeability.

Determination of the permeability coefficient is

crucial for the solution of several geotechnical

engineering problems such as modeling of

underground flow, determination of the hydraulic

properties of leachate water in waste disposal areas,

and calculation of the compressibility.

Conclusion

The experiment centers on the determination of

the coefficient of permeability of coarse-grained

soils. In the two trials that we performed the

coefficient of permeability that we acquired were

0.00361 cm/sec and 0.02398 cm/sec respectively. The

average coefficient of permeability we obtained

0.013755 cm/sec.

It was seen in the data that as the area and the

coefficient of permeability increases are inversely

proportional to each other. Also, it was determined

that the head and the time required for the quantity to

be discharged during the test were inversely

proportional to the coefficient of permeability.

Additionally, the volume of the water discharged

during the test and the length of the specimen was

found to be directly proportional to the coefficient of

permeability.