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r/ ____ i H.
k = a ^ 1o s ° h ;
laboratory where the sides of the box method of determining the coefficient k few cases. The large volume of the
are progressively removed, and four for permeability in Darcy’s formula. tank requires comparatively large
sides of the sample are sealed in A t present, as previously pointed out, quantities of material to be placed, and
paraffin. The sample is then sealed into the application of Darcy’s formula in a the careful placing of these materials
a testing box A (Fig. 7) open at both purely analytical manner is impracti takes so much time and is so expensive
ends with filters of sand and fine gravel cable for non-homogeneous cases, but that the use of the tank in most cases
placed over the open ends, and the box by experimental means the seepage de is uneconomical; often the length of
so filled is set in a tub of water to terminations may be made. To do this, time required in setting up and running
saturate. After saturation is com model studies, following the usual laws a series of tests precludes the use of the
pleted, a standpipe is bolted and sealed of similitude, are required. The equip results for design purposes. Studies of
to the top of the box and filled with ment for this purpose consists of two the results obtained from this tank and
water. The cross-sectional area of the types of model tanks. One is a steel the results of model experiments from
standpipe is large for coarse materials tank with glass panels on one side, the glass-sided tank give comparable
and small for fine materials. The varia which is 40 ft. long, 3 ft. wide and 6 ft. results, so that most of the experimental
tion is from 100 sq.in. to .06 sq.in. The deep (Fig. 8) ; the other is a glass work is carried on in the smaller glass
rate at which the water column drops sided tank 14 ft. long, 2 ft. deep and sided tank.
in the standpipe is recorded; this gives 1¿ in. wide (Fig. 4). In setting up models in the smaller
the required data for the solution of The first tank is equipped with tank, materials are used for foundations
Darcy’s law, as written above. manometer connections to give the pres and embankment which bear the same
sure at many points throughout the relative permeability to the materials in
M odel studies o f seepage nature and to each other. Materials
model. The difficulty, however, of mak
The foregoing discussion has de ing model experiments in this large of permeability having values of K less
veloped the underlying principles of the tank precludes its use except in a very than 20x10-4 cm./sec. are not used in
the small tank, to avoid the distortion
due to the capillary action in these ma
terials. In placing materials in the
D ioj-n. in mm model tank, the finer materials are
tamped in place in thin layers, main
taining water level in the tank at about
the level of the layer previously placed,
depending upon the capillary action to
bring the water up through the layer
being placed and force all air out. The
coarser materials (coarser than the 65-
mesh sieve) are placed under water
and agitated, to force air out and insure
uniform deposition. As shown by Fig.
4, an overflow siphon system is set up
to maintain constant water levels above
and below the model in the tank. Pro
vision is- made to measure the amount
of water drawn out from the lower side
of the model.
To make a study of the seepage char
acteristics of a proposed embankment
and foundation, the foundation and the
embankment are reproduced in the
model tank with proportional per
meabilities- to those in nature so as to
give to scale an exact reproduction of
conditions in nature, as they would be
if the proposed design were constructed.
The headwater and tailwater levels as
they will exist in nature are set up, and
by means of the siphon arrangement
these levels are maintained throughout
the test. A n examination of the model
in operation will indicate whether or
not there is any piping or tendency to
piping in the model and hence to be
expected in the prototype. The line of
saturation in the model may also be
determined by the use of dye lines at
the maximum water surface, as later
discussed. However, to determine the
quantitative results of the model tests
with reference to the prototype, it is
necessary to develop a flow net for the
application of Darcy’s law.
A flow net, simply stated, is a trac
ing of the lines of equal potential from
headwater to tailwater and the related
lines of flow of seeping water. The
equipotential and flow lines are normal
F IG . 9— RESULTS O F P E R M E A B IL IT Y TESTS on undisturbed samples, showing to each other and must be drawn so as
the wide variations from the mean line. to obtain homologous rectangles. As
E n g in e e r in g N e w s -Rec o rd , April 9, 1936