Soil Mechanics

CBE 421

Lecture[3]
Soil Permeability

Dr. Ahmed Ismail Sarie-Eldin

Soil Permeability

Soil Properties

Physical
Mechanical
(Soil Characteristics)

Specific Atterberg Strength

Gradation Compaction Permeability Compressibility
Gravity Limits (Shear)

Moisture Content
Unit Weight

1 – Constant-Head Test
2 – Falling-Head Test
Soil Permeability
Definition
Permeability is defined as the property of a porous material
which permits the seepage of water (or other fluids) through its
connected voids.
Importance of permeability
The study of soil permeability and seepage of water
through soils is important for the following
engineering problems:
Soil Permeability

1. Calculation of seepage through the body of earth dams,

and stability of slopes.
2. Groundwater flow towards wells and drainage of soils.
3. Calculation of uplift pressure on underground structures
and safety of excavations against piping.
4. Determination of the rate of settlement of a saturated
compressible soil.
Example for Importance of Permeability
What is Soil Permeability
Permeability is the measure of the soil’s ability to permit
water to flow through its pores or voids

water

Loose soil Dense soil

- Easy to flow - Difficult to flow
- High permeability - Low permeability
Darcy’s Law
Water moves through soil with
discharge Q, and velocity v.
Q=A∗v
𝑉𝛼 𝑖 𝑖 ℎ/𝑙
𝑉 𝐾∗𝑖 𝐾 ∗ ℎ/𝑙
 Q = 𝐾 ∗ 𝑖 ∗ A = 𝐾 ∗ ℎ/𝑙 ∗A
where:
Q = water discharge (volume/time)
A = area perpendicular to flow direction
v = velocity of flow (length/time)
i = hydraulic gradient = h/L
h = total head difference
L = length parallel to flow direction
k = coefficient of soil permeability
Coefficient of Permeability “k”

 Also called “hydraulic conductivity”

 K=v/i

 Define k: “the velocity of water flowing through a soil medium

under a unit hydraulic gradient”
 flow of water through soil is governed by:
1. Head difference (i=h/l)
2. Soil permeability (k)
 𝐾 100𝑋 𝐷 ....Hazen(1982), Where 𝐷 in cm, K in cm/sec)
Seepage Velocity and Discharge Velocity
 Discharge velocity (v):
velocity of flow through entire cross-section.
Q = Av
Can be measured.
 Seepage velocity (vs):
velocity of flow through voids (soil voids).
Q A ∗V
Can’t be measured, only calculated, how?
Seepage Velocity and Discharge Velocity
 Q = A ∗ V = Av ∗ Vs
Therefore: Vs = V ( A /Av)
Multiplying both areas (A and Av) by the length of the medium (L)
Vs = V ( AL / Av ∗ L ) = V ( Vt / Vv )
where:
Vt = total volume of sample
Vv = volume of voids within sample
By Definition, Vv / Vt = n, the soil porosity
Thus Vs = V/ n
Typical Values of Coefficient of permeability (K)
 The value of the coefficient of permeability (k) varies widely for different
soils. Some typical values of permeability coefficients are given in the
following Table

Coefficient of permeability (K)

Soil Type
(cm/sec)
Clean gravel >1
Clean coarse sand 1 to 1 x 10-2
Sand 1 x 10-2 to 5 x 10-3
Fine sand 5 x 10-2 to 1 x 10-3
Silty sand 2 x 10-3 to 1 x 10-4
Silt 5 x 10-4 to 1 x 10-5
Clay < 1 x 10-6
Laboratory determination of the coefficient of
permeability “k”
There are two standard laboratory test procedures for
determining the coefficient of permeability of soil:

1. Constant head test (for Coarse Soil)

2. Falling head test (for Fine Grain Soil)
Constant Head Test

 Head difference is constant

 Apply Darcy’s law:
Q=A*V
V/t = A*k*h/L

∗
k=
∗ ∗
Where:
V = volume of water collected in time = t
h = constant head difference
A = Cross-sectional area of soil specimen
L = length (height) of soil specimen
Falling Head Test

 Head difference is variable

∗
k= 𝑙𝑛
∗
Where:

ℎ = initial head difference at time = 0

ℎ = final head difference at time T
a = Cross-sectional area of standpipe
A = Cross-sectional area of soil specimen
L = length(height) of soil specimen
T = time for head falling from ho to hf
Permeability of stratified soil

 Average permeability in the horizontal direction

q = Keq . i . H = k1 . i . H1 + k2 . i . H2 + k3 . i . H3 + ……
H = H1 + H2 + H3 + ……

∑ ..
𝐾 ∑ ..
Permeability of stratified soil

 Average permeability in the vertical direction

∑ .. v
𝐾
∑ .. v1 i1
H1

H2
v2 i2

H3 H
v3 i3

H4
v4 i4
Field determination of “k”
 Aquifer: a water-bearing layer of permeable soil with
considerable amount of water.
 Two Types of aquifers Confined &unconfined aquifers.
Unconfined aquifers
Ro
Well Observation wells
Q (piezometers)
Original G.W.T.

/ Cone of

 k=
depression

h2
h1 pervious Layer

Pump

Ro = Radius of influence
r1
Impervious Layer

r2
 Confined aquifers
Ro
Well Observation wells
Q (piezometers)
Original G.W.T.

/
 k= Cone of
depression
Impervious
Layer
Aquifer (Pervious Layer) h2
h1

Pump
D = Thickness of Aquifer (Pervious Layer) D

Ro = Radius of influence r1
Impervious Layer

r2
(1) In a falling head permeability test the initial head was 40 cm. After 10 min. the head
dropped 5 cm. Calculate the soil's coefficient of permeability. Also, calculate the time for
the head to drop another 15 cm. Take length of sample 6 cm, area of sample 50 cm2
and area of stand pipe 50 mm2.

Solution:

aL h
(a) k  Ln 1
At h2
0.5  6 40
 ln  1.33  10 5 cm/sec
50  (10  60) 35

0.5  6 35
(b) 1.33  10 5  ln
50  t 20
 t  2521.7 sec  42 min
 (2) The data for a pumping well test in an unconfined aquifer are as shown. Find the
coefficient of permeability of the aquifer in cm/sec. Knowing that the original
groundwater table is at 2 m depth, and the diameter of the well is 0.5 m, find the radius
of influence of the well, and the draw down at the well, both corresponding to the given
discharge.
Solution:
r  60
Ln 2 
k
Q  r1 
 h2 2  h12
1.4 2m
 20 
Ln 
60  1000000  5  2.1
   0.0247 cm/sec
  60  60 (2160)  (2090) 2
2

25
R 
Ln o 
60  1000000  20 
 0.0247    R o  367 m
  60  60 (2300)  (2160) 2
2

 20  0.5
Ln 
60  1000000  0.25 
 0.0247    h o  19.3 m
  60  60 (2160) 2  (ho ) 2
5

20 m
 Drawdown at the well  23 - 19.3  3.7 m