Title: Falling Head Test

Introduction
In this laboratory session, Students will be introduced on how to determine the
coefficient of permeability of soils using falling head test.

Objectives
The objective is to determine the coefficient of permeability of fine-grained soils.

Basic concept
Permeability is defined as the capacity of a soil to allow water to pass through
and the coefficient of permeability is the flow velocity produced by a hydraulic
gradient of unity.

The falling head test is used to determine the coefficient of permeability of finegrained soils such as silts and clay. For these types of soils, the rate of water
flowing through them is too small to enable accurate measurements using
constant head permeameter. The determination of k using the falling head test is
govern by Darcys law which states that the flow velocity of proportional to
hydraulic gradient and derived as:

h1
)
h2
k=
A ( t 2 t 1 )
aL ln(

Where,
a= cross-sectional area of the standpipe
A= cross-sectional area of the sample
L= the length of the sample
h1= initial height of the standpipe
h2= final height of the standpipe
t1= initial time before the start of the test
t2= Final time at the end of the test.

Problem statement
Permeability is a measure of how easy water can flow through a soil
volume and is considered to be one of the most important geotechnical
parameters. Having knowledge on soil permeability will help engineers in
their design selections. As a group, you are required to investigate the
permeability coefficient of a given soil sample. The group must carry out
the test following the procedures outline and subsequently analyse the
data and present it in a proper technical format.

Apparatus
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Falling head parameter

Standpipes
Triaxial cell or compaction mould
Stopwatch
Thermometer (if necessary)
Bucket
Sample extruder

Procedures
1. A U100 sample or from a core-cutter tube was taken and the sample was
trimmed to assure that both surface is flat and smooth.
2. The soil sample was placed fully into a triaxial cell on top of a porous stone
and placed again the porous stone on top of the soil sample.
3. The whole set up was placed in a bucket partially submerged in water. The
sample should be encased in the triaxial cell to make sure that no air
bubbles are entrapped in the soil sample.
4. The length, L and the diameter, D of the sample was measured. The
diameter, a of the standpipe used in the test was recorded.
5. The standpipe was connected to the sample. The connection of the
standpipe to the sample should be intact to make sure that the presence
of air is minimized.
6. The valve was opened and water was filled into the standpipe to a marked
initial height of the standpipe. The initial reading for height, h 1 and time, t1
were recorded before the commencement of the test.
7. The valve was closed and the test was started by observing the flow of
water and time of the reduction. Once the flow of water reaches the final
height mark, The time was stopped and the final reading for height, h 2 and
time t2 was recorded simultaneously.
8. The temperature was recorded at the time of the test and the temperature
correction from table 1 for kT and k20 was obtained. Compute the average
of k by repeating the above procedures. The correction for the effect of
temperature is given by:

h1
aL
k= At ln h
2

( )

kt= Ktk20

Where,
kt= value of k corresponding to a temperature of t
K20= value of k corresponding to a temperature of 200C
Kt= temperature correction coefficient

Table 1: Values of temperature correction coefficient, Kt

o

Kt

1.779

1.555

10

1.299

15

1.133

20

1.000

25

0.906

30

0.808

40

0.670

50

0.550

60

0.468

70

0.410

Results
Coefficient of permeability of soils,
h1
aL
ln
k= At
h2

( )

DETERMINATION OF THE COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY OF SOIL(Falling

head Test)

SOIL SAMPLE DATA

Diameter of sample, D (cm)

10.5

Cross-sectional area of sample,

A (cm2)
Length of sample, L (cm)

87
12.7

Mass of dry sample, Ms g

Moisture content of sample, W
%
Bulk density of sample,
Mg/cm3
STANDPIPES
DATA
Standpipes no.

Diameter, d cm

0.15

0.3

0.45

Area, a cm2

0.01
8
a
cm2

0.071

0.16

h1 cm

h2 cm

0.01
8

87.3

4.2

Test
no.
1

Standpip
e
No.
1

t sec

A
cm2
87

L cm

12.7

k
cm/se
c

0.07
1
0.16

95.7

55.6

87

12.7

80.6

55.9

87

12.7

Overall average coefficient of permeability of soil

sample, k cm/sec