LBYCVG1

Experiment 10
Permeability Test for Granular Soils (Constant
Head Test)

Experiment performed by:

Anthony John Tang
11448636

Introduction
This experiment aims to determine the
permeability of a certain soil sample. The
permeability of soil is a measure of ease in which
water flows through soil. The property concerning
this is often referred to as the coefficient of
permeability or hydraulic conductivity. This is one
of the most important geotechnical parameters as
determines how easily moisture flows through the
soil, which in turn affects the strength of soil
altogether.

it

One method to experimentally determine the

hydraulic conductivity of a substance in a
laboratory setting is through the constant head
test. This method is often used for coarse grained
soils. The apparatus used for such test are called permeameters.
Figure 1 Permeameter

Data and Calculations

To calculate the permeability of the soil at constant head, the following equation
was used:

k=

QL cm

Aht sec

Where

L=length of the soil

h=total head

k =coefficient of permeability

Q=total dsicharge volume

A=cross sectional area of the permeameter

t=total discharge time

The standardized k at 20 degrees can be calculated as follows:

The void ratio can be then calculated as follows:

Permeameter diameter, cm
Permeameter cross-sectional area,
cm^2
Volume
Mass of permeameter, kg
Mass of permeameter + soil, kg
Mass of soil

Group
Group
Group 1
Group 2
3
4
6.115
6.4225
6.27
6.325
29.369

32.397

375.9177
3.12
3.773
0.653

447.0717
2.91
3.73
0.82

30.876
398.61
3
1.85
2.52
0.67

31.420
421.03
26
2.45
3.16
0.71

Height of constant head, cm

Moisture content of air-dried sample,
%
Setup 1 Soil type and Description:
Lengt
Time, Temperatu
h of
Trial
s
re, Celsius
Soil,
cm

Q, mL

76

27.4

12.8

500

77

27.3

12.8

500

76

27.1

12.8

500

Setup 2 Soil type and Description:

Lengt
Time, Temperatu
h of
Trial
s
re, Celsius
Soil,
cm
68.96

27.5

13.8

500

74

27.5

13.8

500

80.66

27.6

13.8

500

Setup 3 Soil type and Description:

Lengt
Time,
Temperatu
h of
Trial
s
re, Celsius
Soil,
cm
70.34

27.1

12.91

500

70.3

27.2

12.91

500

70.78

27.4

12.91

500

Setup 4 Soil type and Description:

Lengt
Time, Temperatu
h of
Trial
s
re, Celsius
Soil,
cm
1

73.53

28.1

13.4

75

76

K20

0.0396
05
0.0390
90
0.0396
05

0.0333
79
0.0330
19
0.0336
00

K20

0.0420
21
0.0391
59
0.0359
26

0.0353
40
0.0329
33
0.0301
49

Q, mL

73.5

Q, mL

72.4

Q,
mL
500

K20

0.0396
29
0.0396
51
0.0393
82

0.0336
21
0.0335
65
0.0331
91

Correcti
on
Factor

e
0.5255
47
0.5255
47
0.5255
47

0.8428
0.8447
0.8484

Correcti
on
Factor

K20

0.0381
58

0.0316
71

e
0.4448
05
0.4448
05
0.4448
05

0.841
0.841
0.8392

Correcti
on
Factor
0.8484
0.8465
0.8428

e
0.5766
03
0.5766
03
0.5766
03

Correction
Factor
0.83

e
0.571
46

75.66

27.5

13.4

500

78.27

27.7

13.4

500

0.0370
84
0.0358
47

0.0311
87
0.0307
32

0.841
0.8573

0.571
46
0.571
46

K20 vs e
0.03
0.03
0.03

f(x) = - 0.14x^2 + 0.14x - 0

R = 0.12

0.03

K20

0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.03
0.4

0.42

0.44

0.46

0.48

0.5

0.52

0.54

0.56

0.58

As stated previously for the experiment, there have been attempts to relate the
coefficient of permeability with the void ratio. The following equation was used:

K 2=K 1

e2
e1

( )

k
e
0.039
0.525
433
547
0.028
0.444
247
805
0.047
0.576
467
603
0.046
0.571
624
46

With that, the following data was obtained.

0.6

K vs e
0.05
f(x) = 0.14x^2 - 0x + 0

0.05
0.04

Axis Title

0.04
0.03
0.03
0.4

0.42

0.44

0.46

0.48

0.5

0.52

0.54

0.56

0.58

0.6

Axis Title

Discussion of Results
As can be seen from the chart equations, with both polynomials to the 2 nd power,
the coefficients of the first term in both charts are relatively similar, except that the
term in the k20 chart has a negative sign, since the graph curves downward as
compared to the second one that curves upwards. This can indicate that there may
be a concise relationship between the relationship equation used on the 2 nd chart
data and the actual coefficient of permeability. However, there are other terms in
the equation given in the 1st chart, while the 2nd one deems the 2nd and 3rd term
insignificant due to their incredibly small coefficients. From this we can infer that
there is still a discrepancy to the relationship equation used and the actual
coefficient of permeability.
As for the actual permeability, with the different trials done in the laboratory, there
are varying outcomes to the permeability, with minimal deviations. One source of
the deviations may be due to the several human errors in the experiments, such as
misreadings in the volume outflow, time recordings, and head misreadings. Another
probable cause of error may be due to the difficulty to maintain constant head
during the experiment. There may have been times were the head may have been
higher or lower than it should, thus causing some discrepancies in the experiment.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The permeability tests may be one of the most important tests in the determination
of soil properties. It is also one of the most difficult to perform as the soil becomes
disturbed during tests and therefore cannot accurately represent the soil.
Nonetheless, permeability tests can provide an estimated data necessary for
structural design. The permeability determines the amount of seepage in which the
soil becomes susceptible to. It is necessary in the design of earth walls, steel sheet
pile walls, earth dams, and any structure that is exposed to water. It is also used in
calculations of the rate of settlement of clayey soil deposits. The constant head

method, as based on ASTM D2434, is often used for coarse grain materials, or any
permeable soil. For finer soils, the falling head method is used.