UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA

Centre for Diploma Studies

________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

HIGHWAY AND GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
LAPORAN MAKMAL
LABORATORY REPORT

Kod & Nama Kursus

DAC 20803 – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
Course Name & Code
Tajuk Ujikaji
FALLING HEAD PERMEABILITY TEST
Title of Experiment
Seksyen
02
Section
Kumpulan
04
Group
Nama Pensyarah/Pengajar
Cik Siti Nooraiin Binti Mohd Razali
Lecturer/Instructor’s Name
Nama Ketua Kumpulan No. Matrik. AA192049
MUHAMMAD SYAHMI
Name of Group Leader Matric No.

Ahli Kumpulan No. Matrik

Group Members Matric No.
1. MUHAMMAD SYAHMI BIN MOHD SHARIFUL AZWAN
AA192049
2. NURIRDINA MAISARAH BINTI MUHAMAD RIZA
AA191404

3. NURUL ANISAH BINTI KASRAN AA190308

4. MUHAMMAD NUR ALIF BIN MOHD. JOHARI AA190067

5.

6.
Tarikh Ujikaji
Date of Experiment
Tarikh Hantar
2 JUN 2021
Date of Submission

ULASAN PEMERIKSA/COMMENTS COP DITERIMA/RECEIVED STAMP

 Test Title:
Lab Report Rubric DAC 20803 – GEOTECHNICAL
(Assessment Form) ENGINEERING
Criteria 1 2 3 4 5 SCR WT TSCR (%)

Theory, • Theory and other • Theory and other • Theory and other • Theory and other information • Theory and other information
objective, information regarding information regarding information regarding the regarding the laboratory is regarding the laboratory is well
2 0
procedure the laboratory is not the laboratory is laboratory is partly presented presented with some mistakes presented
(10%) presented presented minimally
Analysis / Result • Trends / patterns • Trends / patterns are • Trends / patterns are • Trends / patterns are • Trends / patterns are logically
(25%) are not analyzed not analyzed logically analyzed for the logically analyzed analyzed
Cognitive 5 0
• Analysis is not • Analysis is most part • Analysis is thoughtful • Analysis is insightful
relevant inconsistent • Analysis is general
Reference • Reference was not • Reference was • Reference was partly • Reference was presented in • Reference was presented in
(5%) presented in the minimally presented in presented in somewhat proper format and relevant to proper format and relevant to the
1 0
report the report proper format and relevant to the laboratory work with some laboratory work
the laboratory work minor mistakes /40
Data • Data is not • Data lacks precision • Good representation of the • Accurate representation of • Accurate representation of the
(25%) represented or is not • Greater than 20% data using tables and/or the data using tables and/or data using tables and/or graphs
accurate difference with graphs graphs • Graphs and tables are labeled
5 0
accepted values • Less than 15% difference • Data is fairly precise and titled
with accepted values • Less than 10% difference • Data is precise with less than 5%
Psychomotor
• Precision is acceptable with accepted values difference with accepted values
Participation • Student was hostile • Participation was • Did the job but did not • Used time pretty well. • Showed interest, used time very
(during about participating minimal appear to be very interested. Stayed focused on the well, guide other students and very
1 0
experiment) Focus lost on several experiment most of the time focused on experiment
(5%) occasion /30
Question & • Questions are not • Answers to • Questions are answered in • Questions are answered in • Questions are answered
Discussion answered questions are complete sentences complete sentences thoroughly and in complete
(15%) • No discussion was incomplete • A statement of the results • Accurate statement of the sentences
included or shows • A statement of the of the lab indicates whether results of the lab indicates • Accurate statement of the results
little effort and results is incomplete results support the hypothesis whether results support the of lab indicates whether results 3 0
reflection on the lab with little reflection on hypothesis support hypothesis
the lab • Possible sources of error • Possible sources of error and
Affective identified what was learned from the lab
discussed
Conclusion & • Conclusion & • Conclusion & • Conclusion & • Conclusion & • Conclusion & recommendation
Recommendation recommendation recommendation was recommendation was recommendation was was presented accurately and
(15%) was not presented minimally presented presented somewhat presented accurately and relevant to result obtain from the
3 0
accurate and relevant to relevant to result obtain from laboratory work
result obtain from the the laboratory work with minor
laboratory work mistakes /30

NAME OF LECTURER : SIGNATURE : DATE :

Note : SCR = SCORE, WT = WEIGHTAGE, TSCR = TOTAL SCORE

 STUDENT CODE OF ETHIC
(SCE)
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
CENTRE OF DIPLOMA STUDIES

We, hereby confess that we have prepared this report on our own effort. We also admit not to
receive any help from any third party during the preparation of this report and pledge that
everything mentioned in the report is true.

________________
Student Signature (Group Representative)
Muhammad Syahmi Bin
Mohd Shariful Azwan
Name : …………………………………………
AA192049
Matric No. : …………………………………………..
21 JUN 2021
Date : …………………………………………

3
4
 FALLING HEAD PERMEABILITY TEST

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this experiment, students should be able to:

• Describe the general accepted practice to determine the coefficient of
permeability of silts and clays.
• Identify the relationship between permeability and pore size of the fine
grained soils.
• Measure the coefficient of permeability of silts and clays.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The falling head permeability test involves flow of water through a relatively short
soil sample connected to a standpipe which provides the water head and also
allows measuring the volume of water passing through the sample. The diameter
of the standpipe depends on the permeability of the tested soil. The test can be
carried out in a Falling Head permeability cell or in an oedometer cell.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this experiment are to determine permeability of soils of

intermediate and low permeability (less than 10-4 m/s), i.e. silts and clays.

1.3 THEORY

5
In the falling head test a relatively short sample is connected to a standpipe which
provides both the head of water and the means of measuring the quantity of water
flowing through the sample. Several standpipes of different diameters are
normally available from which can be selected the diameter most suitable for the
type of material being tested.

In permeability tests on clays, much higher hydraulic gradients than are normally
used with sands can be applied, and are often necessary to induce any
measurable flow. The cohesion of clays provides resistance to failure by piping at
gradients of up to several hundred, even under quite low confining or surcharge
pressures. Dispersive clays however are very susceptible to erosion at much
lower gradient.

The falling head principle can be applied to an undisturbed sample in a sampling

tube and to a sample in an oedometer consolidation cell. The equations used in
determine the permeability of fine grained soils is given in Equation (1).

aL æh ö
Permeability, k = log e çç 1 ÷÷………..Equation (1)
A(t 2 - t1 ) è h2 ø

The time difference (t2-t1) can be expressed as the elapsed time, t (minutes). The
heights h1 and h2 and the length, L are expressed in millimeters, and the areas A
and a in square millimeters. Equation (1) then becomes Equation (2).

aL æh ö
Permeability, k = log e çç 1 ÷÷(mm / s ) ………..Equation (2)
Ax 60t è h2 ø

To convert natural logarithms to ordinary (base 10) logarithms, multiply by

2.303. If k is expressed in m/s, the above equation becomes Equation (3).

2.303aL æh ö
Permeability, k = log10 çç 1 ÷÷(m / s ) ………..Equation (3)
1000 xAx60t è h2 ø

6
Where: a = area of cross-section of standpipe tube,
A = area of cross section of sample
h1 = heights of water above datum in standpipe at time t1
h2 = heights of water above datum in standpipe at time t2
L = heights of sample
t = elapsed time in minutes

1.4 APPARATUS

1. Permeameter cell, comprising:

i. Cell body, with cutting edge (core cutter), 100 mm diameter and 130
mm long.
ii. Perforated base plate with straining rods and wing nuts.
iii. Top clamping plate.
iv. Connecting tube and fittings.

Figure 1: Compaction permeameter

1.5 PROCEDURES

1. Assemble apparatus,

7
 a. The apparatus is set up as shown in Figure 2. The volume of water
passing through a sample of low permeability is quite small and a
continuous supply of de-aired water is not necessary, but the
reservoir supplying the de-airing tank should be filled with distilled
or de-ionised water

2. Calibrate manometer tubes,

a. The areas of cross-section of the three manometer tubes should

be determined as follows for each tube:

i. Fill the tube with water up to a known mark near the top of
the scale, observed to the nearest mm,

ii. Runoff water from the tube into a weighted beaker, until the
level in the tube has fallen by about 500mm or more,

iii. Read the new water level on the scale, to the nearest mm,

iv. Weigh the beaker containing water from the tube (weighing
should be to the nearest 0.01g)

v. The diameter of the manometer can be calculated as

follows:

1000m w
diameter, a = mm2
h1 - h2
Where, mw = mass of water (g), h1 = initial level in tube (mm),
h2 = final level in tube (mm), and A = area of cross-section
of tube (mm2)
vi. Repeat the measurements two or three times for each tube,
and average the results.

3. Prepare cell,
a. Dismantle the cell,
b. Check the cell body is clean and dry, and weigh it to the nearest
0.1g,
c. Measure the mean internal diameter (D) and length (L) to the
nearest 0.5mm
4. Prepare sample,
a. Undisturbed sample can be taken by means of core cutter.
b. Make sure that the sample is a tight fit in the body and there are no
cavities around the perimeter through which water could pass,
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5. Assemble cell
6. Connect cell
7. Saturate and de-air sample
8. Fill manometer system
9. Run test
a. Open screw clip at inlet to allow water to flow down through the
sample, and observe the water level in the standpipe,
b. As soon as it reaches the level h1, start the timer clock,
c. Observe and record the time when the level reaches h3, and when
it reaches h2, then stop the clock,
d. Close screw clip at inlet
10. Repeat test
11. Calculate permeability
12. Report result

Figure 2: Falling head permeability cell with manometer tubes

1.6 REFERENCES

1. Das, Braja M., 2014. “Principles of geotechnical engineering”: Cengage

Learning. (TA710 .D37 2014)

9
2. Morris, A., 2012. “Geotechnical engineering of soil”: Auris Reference.
(TA705 .G49 2012)
3. Braja, M.D., 2010. “Principle of Geotechnical Engineering”: McGrawHill.
(TA710.D37 2010)
4. Cheng Liu & Jack B. Evett, 2008. “Soils and Foundations”: Prentice Hall.
(TA710.L58 2008)

10
1.7 ADDITIONAL THEORY

Falling head permeability test include the flow of water through relatively short soil
sample that connected with standpipe and provide water head and allows
measure the volume of water passing through sample. The diameter of the
standpipe depends on the permeability of the tested soil. The test can be carried
out in falling head permeability cell or in an oedometer cell. The rate of flow of
water, under laminar flow conditions, through a unit cross sectional are of soil
mass, under unit hydraulic gradient defined as coefficient of permeability.
Permeability of the soil governs the magnitude of excess pore water pressure
built-up in the embankment or cuttings, during consolidation process or when the
embankment is ponded by water. Meanwhile the excess pore water pressure in-
turn effect the stability of embankments and show the need or otherwise of need
for special measure in order to prevent or quickly dissipate excess pore water
pressure. Coefficient of permeability is used to assess drainage characteristics of
soil, rate of consolidation and to predict rate of settlement of soil.

The falling head permeability test used in this study based on a modified version
of the Brazilian standard NBR 14545/2000 to determine the permeability
coefficient of clay soils. Meanwhile the American Standard ACI 522R-10 was not
used since the apparatus described in the Brazilian standard that meet the same
principles and studies the same variables.

Before start the flow measurements, the soil sample need to be saturated and
standpipes are filled with de-aired water to given level. The starts by allow water
to flow through the sample until water in the standpipe reaches a give lower limit.
The time required for the water in the standpipe to drop from upper to lower level
must be recorded. The standpipe often refilled and the test is repeated for couple
times. The recorded time should be the same for each test within an allowable
variation of about 10% otherwise the test is failed.
(10 marks)

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1.8 DATA
Falling Head Permeability test
Location: Sample no:
Operator: Section 2 Group 4 Date:

Soil description:
Method of
preparation:

Sample diameter, D: 100 Sample length, L: 130

mm mm
Sample area, A: 7853.98 Sample volume, V: 1021
mm2 cm3
Mass of mould: 960 g Mass of sample+mould: 2670
g
Mass of sample: 1710 g

S.G. measured/assumed: Voids ratio:

Bulk density, r: 16.43 Dry density, r: 14.94
kN/m3 kN/m3
Mositure content: 10 Test temperature: 25
% °c

Standpipe diameter: 4.05 Standpipe area, a: 12.07

mm mm2

Reading:
Reference Height Height Test
point above above No. Time, t Height
datum, y outlet, h (min) ratios
(mm) (mm)
1 900 800 1 0.10 1.125
2 800 700 2 0.21 1.143
3 700 600 3 0.33 1.167
4 600 500 4 0.47 1.2

Calculations: (25 marks)

2.303aL æh ö
Permeability, k = log10 çç 1 ÷÷(m / s ) APPROVED BY
1000 xAx60t è h2 ø
=
12
Calculations:
Permeability, k:
(".$%$)('".%()('$%)
K1 = ('%%%)(()*$.+))(,%-,) log'% 1.125

= 6.538 9 10;) <</>

(".$%$)('".%()('$%)
K2 = ('%%%)(()*$.+))(,%-'".,) log'% 1.143

= 3.533 9 10;) <</>

(".$%$)('".%()('$%)
K3 = ('%%%)(()*$.+))(,%-'+.)) log'% 1.167

= 2.598 9 10;) <</>

(".$%$)('".%()('$%)
K4 = ('%%%)(()*$.+))(,%-").") log'% 1.2

= 2.153 9 10;) <</>

1.9 ANALYSIS & RESULT

Based on the experiment that we made, the sample of diameter that we

used is 100mm while the sample area is 7853.98 mm2. Next, the mass of
mould is 960g, the sample length(L) is 130mm and mass of sample is 1710g.
The sample of volume is 1021 cm3 and the mass of sample with mould would
be 2670g. The sample dry density is 14.94 kN/m3. The bulk density is 16.43
kN/m3. Test temperature of water would be 25oC. and the area of standpipe is
12.07mm2 while standpipe’s diameter is 4.05mm.

Refer based on reference point 1 from reading table, the timing test was
0.10 minutes and the permeability (k) is 6.538 x 10-8 mm/s. Next, height above
datum with 800mm and height above outlet 700mm which is reference point 2
need 0.21 minutes and the permeability (k) is 3.533 x 10-8 mm/s. Point 3 would
take 0.33 minutes with permeability 2.598 x 10-8 mm/s. Lastly, reference point
4 with height above datum 600mm and height above outlet 50mm, the
permeability 2.153 x 10-8 mm/s while the time is 0.47 minutes.

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 (25 marks)
1.10 QUESTION & DISCUSSION

1. Determine the coefficient of permeability for the given sample of soil.

The coefficient of permeability for k1 is 6.538 x 10-8 mm/s while the

coefficient of permeability for k2 is 3.533 x 10-8 mm/s, k3 is 2.598 x 10-
8
mm/s and lastly k4 is 2.598 x 10-8 mm/s. This shown that how
efficiently a liquid can flow into it and the hydraulic conductivity. This is
because by a substance’s viscosity or thickness and density. The
number can be affected by void size or non-soil field, soil particle
shape, surface roughness and void continuity. This is an important
factor since need to consider while determine the rate at which a fluid
will flow through some types of soil.

2. Discussion

Based on objective, this experiment’s objective is achieved because the

amount of permeability is less than 10-4 m/s. It shows that the soil are
silts and clays which intermediate and low permeability soils. Few
possible failures that have occurred such as incorrect permeameter
assembly which lead to inconsistent flow through the device. Next, by
use an inaccurate timer can create incorrect time measurements result
which the data that differed from the expected value. Other than that,
did not use the same scale for all dimensions. By use the same scale
for each measurement, it can prevent any error. Generally, this
experiment can show accepted practice to determine the coefficient of
permeability of clays and silts, calculate the coefficient of permeability.
(15 marks)

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1.11 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
Based on experiment, we able to identify and measure the coefficient
of permeability of silts and clay and relationship between permeability
and pore size of the fine grained soils.

The falling head test can be improved by few recommendations. First,

have a proper permeameter assembly. As a result, it can give accurate
flow through the system numbers. Use a proper calibrated stopwatch
also can effect the result in accurate time measurement which can lead
data that differed from its value

(15 marks)

1.12 REFERENCES

Geotech Data
http://www.geotechdata.info/geotest/falling-head-permeability-test
VJ Tech
https://www.vjtech.co.uk/blog/introduction-to-permeability-testing

(5 marks)

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