1

1.0 OBJECTIVE
To determine permeability of sands and gravels containing little or no silt
2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME
at the end of this experiment, students are able to
describe the procedure to determine the coefficient of permeability of sands and
gravels based on on ASTM D2434
identify the relationship between the permeability and pore size of the coarse
grained soils.
Measure the coefficient of permeability of sands and gravels containing little or no
silt

3.0 THEORY
The most common permeability cell (permeameter) is 75mm in diameter and is intended
for sands containing particles up to about 5mm. A larger cell, 114mm, can be used for
testing sands containing particles up to about 10mm, i.e. medium gravel size. As a general
rule the ratio of the cell diameter to the diameter of the largest size of particle in
significant quantity should be at least 12.

The constant head permeability cell is intended for testing disturbed granular soils which
are recompacted into the cell, either by using a specified compactive effort, or to achieve
a certain dry density, i.e. void ratio.

In the constant head test, water is made to flow through a column of soil under the
application of a pressure difference which remains constant, i.e. under a constant head.
The amount of water passing through the soil in a known time is measured, and the
permeability of the sample is calculated by using Equation (1).

If the connections to the cell are arranged so that water flows upwards through the
sample, the critical hydraulic gradient can be determined after measuring the steady state
permeability, and the effects of instability (boiling and piping) can be observed. It is
important that use only air-free water, and measures for preventing air bubbling out of
solution during these tests is very crucial.
2

(Eqn 1)
Where : q = rate of flow
A = area of sample
I = hydraulic gradient

h
1
h
2
= head difference between 2 reference points
L = distance between 2 references points

4.0 TEST EQUIPMENTS
1. Constant head permeability cells, fitted with loading piston, perforated plates, flow
tube connections, piezometer nipples and connections, air bleed valve, sealing rings.
Figure 1shows permeameter cells that commonly used in laboratory testing


Figure 1 : Permeameter cells for constant head test: (a) 75mm, (b) 114 mm (courtesy
of ELE International, 2007)







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5.0 PROCEDURES
1. Prepare permeameter cell,
a. Remove the top plate assembly from the cell
b. Measure the following dimensions :
i. Mean internal diameter (D mm)
ii. Distance between centres of each set of manometer connection points
along the axis of the cell (L mm)
iii. Overall approximate internal length of cell (H1 mm)

c. Calculate the following based on measured dimensions :
i. Area of cross- section of sample, A = D
2
/ 4 mm
2

ii. Approximate mass of soil required, to fill the permeameter cell V = AH
1
/
1000 g
iii. Approximate mass of soil required, if placed at a density Mg/m
3
, mass =
AH
1
/1000g
2. Select sample
a. Air-dry the soil which the test sample is to be taken
b. Sieve the soil sample and any particles larger than 5 mm need to be remoed by
sieving
c. The material needs to be reduced by the usual riffling process to produce several
batches of samples each about equal to the mass required to fill the permeameter
cell
3. Prepare sample,
a. The sample may be placed in the permeameter cell by one of three methods :
i. Compacting by rodding
ii. Dry pouring
iii. Pouring through water
4. Assemble cell
a. Place a second porous disc (if one has already been used) and the second wire
gauze disc on top of the soil, followed by about 40 mm thickness of glass balls or
gravel filter material
b. The level of the top surface of the filter should be within the limits required to
accommodate the top plate
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c. Slacken the piston locking collar on the cell top, pull the piston up as far as it will
go, and re-tighten the locking collar
d. Fit the cell top on the cell and tighten it down into place by progressively
tightening the clamping screws
e. Release the piston locking collar and push the piston down until the perforated
plate bears on the filter materials
f. Hold it down firmly while the locking collar is re-tightened
5. Connect up cell
a. Connect the nozzle at the base of the cell to the de-aired water supply, and close
the inlet cock
b. Connect each piezometer point that is to be used to a manometer tube and close
with a pinchcock close to the cell
c. Connect the top outlet of the cell to the vacuum, fitted with a water trap, using
rigid plastic or
d. Close the air bleed screw on the cell top
6. Saturate and de-air sample
7. Connect up for a test
8. Run a test
a. Turn on the supply of de-aired water to the constant head device, which be at alow
level initially,
b. Open water supply valve that connect it to the cell, and the base outlet cock c.
c. Allow water to flow through the sample until the conditions appear to be steady
and the water levels in the manometer tubes remain stationarye
d. Adjust valve on the supply line to the constant head device so that there is a
continuous small overflow; if this is excessive, the de-aired water will be wasted.
e. To start a test run, empty the measuring cylinder and start the timer at the instant
the measuring cylinder is placed under the outlet overflow.
f. Record the clock time at which the first run is started.
g. Read the levels of the water in the manometer tubes (h
1
, h
2
,etc) and measure the
water temperature (TC) in the outlet reservoir.
h. When the level in the cylinder reaches a predetermined mark (such as 50ml or
200ml) stop the clock, record the elapsed time to the nearest half second
9. Repeat test
a. Empty the cylinder, and make four to six repeat runs at about 5 minutes intervals
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10. Dismantle cell
11. Calculate the result
12. Report

Figure 2 : general arrangement for costant head permeability test (downward flow)
(courtesy of ELE International,2007)










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6.0 AND CALCULATIONS
Constant Head Permeability test
Location : Geotechnic Laboratory Sample no :
Operator : Date : 14 September 2014

Soil Description : Sand
Method of
preparation :

Sample diameter : 80 mm Sample Length
Sample area, A : 5026 mm
2
Sample Volume : 1166 cm
4

Sample dry mass : 1925 g Sample dry density : 16.19 kN/m
3


S.G. measured/assumed Voids ratio :
Heights above datum : inlet Heights above datum : outlet
Manometer a : mm Manometer b: mm Manometer c : mm
Head difference a to c : 38 mm Distance difference : 90 mm
Flow upwards/downwards : downwards Hydraulic gradients : 0.42
Temperature :









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Reading :
Time from
start
min
Time
interval, t
min
Measured
flow, Q
ml
Rate of flow,
q
=Q/t
ml/min

Remarks

m/s
12.00 PM 0 0 0 0 0
12.02 PM 1 1480 1520.00 1.00 1.200 x 10
-5

12.04 PM 1 1480 1520.00 1.00 1.200 x 10
-5

12.06 PM 1 1480 1520.00 1.00 1.200 x 10
-5

12.08 PM 1 1480 1520.00 1.00 1.200 x 10
-5

12.10 PM 1 1480 1520.00 1.00 1.200 x 10
-5

12.12 PM 2 3000 1500.00 0.71 1.184 x 10
-5

12.15 PM 2 3000 1500.00 0.71 1.184 x 10
-5

12.18 PM 2 3000 1500.00 0.71 1.184 x 10
-5

12.21 PM 2 3000 1500.00 0.71 1.184 x 10
-5

12.24 PM 2 3000 1500.00 0.71 1.184 x 10
-5

12.27 PM 3 4480 1493.33 0.58 1.180 x 10
-5

12.31 PM 3 4480 1493.33 0.58 1.180 x 10
-5

12.36 5 7430 1486.00 0.45 1.175 x 10
-5


7.0 DATA ANALYSIS
Sample area,
A = 5026 mm
2
(from the lab sheet)
Sample Volume,
V = 1166 mm
2
(from the lab sheet)

= 0.42


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Rate flow,
q
1
= 1480 ml/min
1520

= 2.53 x 10
-5
m
3
/s
Rate flow,
q
2
= 1500 ml/min
1500

= 2.5 x 10
-5
m
3
/s
Rate flow,
q
3
= 1493.33 ml/min
1493.33

= 2.49 x 10
-5
m
3
/s
Rate flow,
q
4
= 1486 ml/min
1486

= 2.48 x 10
-5
m
3
/s

Permeability
K
1
=

= 1.20 x10
-5

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Permeability
K
2
=

= 1.184 x 10
-5


Permeability,
K
3
=

=1.18 x 10
-5
m/s

Permeability,
K
4
=

= 1.175 x 10
-5
m/s


8.0 QUESTIONS
1. Determine the coefficient of permeability for the given sample of soil
K=

k

=
(

= 1.177 x 10
-5
m/s


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2. Give a conclusion for this test
From the experiment, we can know that the objective of the experiment is to
determine the permeability of sands and gravels containing little or no silt. From the
experiment that have done, we can know that the objective for this experiment was
achieved. This is because the value of permeability of sands is k = 1.177 x 10
-5
m/s.
From the table of value permeability (from discussion), our results test we located in
categorized as fine sands. It means that the soil are using through this experiment is
fine sands.

9.0 DISCUSSION
The value of the k (permeability) that we get is 1.177 x 10
-5
m/s. This value we get by
using the formula
K=

Before that, we find the value Ai first and after that we get the value of q. So, the
permeability of this sample is moderate. This is because the porosity of sand and
gravel is high or moderate where by water can flows through the soil with less
resistance. It can drain water easily but hardly can retain any water. The greater pore
size of soil is more permeability then the soil with smaller pore size. From value of k,
we can classify the type of soil that we use is silty sands or silty clays and this types
of soil is not suitable for drainage system.

Table 1 shows the range of average values for k for various soil and also indicates
potential
drainage.
Soil Type K (m/s) Potential
Fine Gravel 100 1 Very good drainage
Medium and Coarse Sands 1 10-1 Very good drainage
Fine Sands 10-1 10-2 Very good drainage
Silty sands 10-2 10-3 Good drainage
Silt and Silty Sands 10-3 10-5 Good drainage
Silty sands, silty clays 10-5 10-7 Poor drainage
Clays 10-7 10-9 Practically impervious
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The coefficient of permeability may be defined as the flow velocity produced by
ahydraulic gradient of unity. The value of k is use as a measure of the resistance to flow
offered bythe soil, and it is affected by several factors:
a. The porosity of the soil.
b. The particle-size distribution.
c. The shape and orientation of soil particles.
d. The degree of saturation/presence of air.
e. The type of cation and thickness of adsorbed layers associated with clay mineral.
f. The viscosity of the soil water, which varies with temperature.
In our measurement, there has some error occurred. First, instrumental error occurred
because of the wrong adjustment of the devices when the observation was made. On the other
hand, the human factors also give the effects to the traverse work which is due to the inability
of the observer to give a correct reading of a measurement. There has many mistakes
occurred from the carelessness of the observer. The carelessness and mistakes are including
of wrong reading measurement, inexperience of controlling the instrument and some of
mistakes in calculation works..
However, we managed to overcome this problem with a few precautions and steps in
order to minimize the errors from affected our result. For the instrumental factor, we make
carefully set up the constant head test instruments until it comes to a perfect condition. For
the carelessness of the observer, we overcome it by placing the eyes perpendicularly to the
reading so we can get a correct readings. Furthermore, the error caused by human factors, we
solving it by carefully in all actions of collecting the data including the data readings, data
recording and calculation works.







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10.0 CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, we get the time is found to be constant at volume of water. The time we get
is faster. This is because the permeability of the gravel soil absorbs the water is low. This
gravel soil has a large molecular space. Therefore, the water diffusion rate is low. It appears
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 higher
value.
11.0 REFERENCES
1. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Constant-Head-Permeability-Test-1151824.html
2. http://www.slideshare.net/xakikazmi/constant-head
3. Geotechnic Laboratory Report, Department of Civil Engineering UTHM