GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY ECG428

LAB 7 : PERMEABILITY OF SOILS FOR COARSE

GRAINED SOILS
PREPARED FOR : DR. MAZIDAH BINTI MUKRI
PREPARED BY
NUR ZALIKHA IZZATI BINTI ROSLI

2015430562

MUHAMMAD HANIF IZZUDDIN BIN ADNAN

2015430118

DHABITAH BINTI MOHAMMAD ISA

2015230006

HABIB SAKHAWI BIN HAMZAH

2015229492

MUHAMMAD HAKIMI BIN MD RUSDI

2015218568

RESULT

TEST
NO
1

VOLUME OF
WATER
DISCHARED (ml)
500

TIME
(s)
275

q = V/t
1.8182

h (1), cm
12.9

h (2), cm
24.4

h (3) , cm
30.8

Diameter of the permeameter cell, D= 7.95 cm

Diameter for manometer, d1=
d2=
d3=
Area of the permeameter cell, A = 49.69 cm^2
Distance between manometer, L1 =6.00 cm
L2 =13.60 cm
L3 =6.00 cm
Hydraulic gradient, i = h/L
i = 2.15
i = 1.79
i = 5.13
Specimen bulk in unit weight (W/V) =
Formula For coefficient of Darcys law, k =
where, Q = total discharge volume
L = length of the soil sample between the manometers (L);
h = total head difference measured on the manometers (L);
A = cross-sectional area of the soil sample
t = time for discharge in seconds
coefficient of Darcys law, k1 =

k2 =

k3 =

DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Permeability refers to the ease with which water can flow through a soil.Soils are
permeable (water may flow through them) because they consist not
only of solid particles, but a network of interconnected pores. The degree to which soils are

permeable depends upon a number of factors, such as soil type, grain size distribution and
soil history. This degree of permeability is characterised by the coefficient of permeability.
This property is necessary for the calculation of seepage through earth dams or under sheet
pile walls, the calculation of the seepage rate from waste storage facilities (landfills, ponds,
etc.), and the calculation of the rate of settlement of clay soil deposits. As for coarse grained
soils, we can conduct the Constant Head Permeameter Test.
After conducting this experiment, we have gathered some crucial information in order
to find the permeability of coarse-grained soils. We have set the volume of water discharged
will be at 500 ml. The time for the water to be collected at 500 ml is 275s. Thus, the rate of
flow of water is 1.8182 ml/s. Since permeameter cell was connected with three manometer
with different diameter, thus we will obtain 3 different pressure of water in manometer. As
for h1, we obtain the height in manometer is 12.9, h2 is 24.4 and h3 is 30.8. since h3 has less
diameter than the other, thus h3 will give the highest pressure in manometer than the other.
Meanwhile, we have obtained the area of the cell which is 4963.91 mm^2. The length
between the manometer is L1=6.0cm,L2=13.60cm ,L3=6.0 cm .
By using this data, we can obtain the permeability of coarse grain soils by using the
stated formula in result.The value of permeability we get by using q=Aki is ______. This
result is used to find the moderate value for permeability. By using the formula k=_____, we
obtain that k1=0.01702,k2= 0.02039 ,k3=0.007128

CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, we get the time is found to be constant at volume of water. This
gravel soil has a large molecular space. Therefore, the water diffusion rate is low. It appear to

be a function of three factors for a constant paste amount and character: effective air void
content, effective void size and drain down. From the coefficient of permeability for the
given sample of soil value, we can say that the rate of flow the sample has get the value
higher. The coefficient of permeability may be defined as the flow velocity produced by a
hydraulic gradient of unity. The value of k is use as a measure of the resistance to flow
offered by the soil, and it is affected by several factors which are porosity of soils, particle
size distribution, shape and orientation of soils particles, the degree of saturation, presence of
air and the viscosity of the soil water. The greater pore size of soil is more permeability than
the soil with smaller pore size. From value of k which we get is between 0.007128 to
0.02039, , we can clasify the type of soil that we use is silthy sands which are quite good for
drainage system.