EXPERIMENT NO.

-05
FALLING HEAD PERMEABILITY TEST
OBJECTIVE:
To determine coefficient of permeability of fine grained soil we use falling
head permeability method.

THEORY:
In the falling head test a relatively short sample is connected to a stand pipe
which provides both the head of water and means of measuring the quantity of
water flowing through the sample. Several stand pipes of different dia are normally
available from which can be selected the dia most suitable for the type of material
being tested.
In permeability test of clay, much higher hydraulic gradients than are
normally used with sand can be applied, and are often necessary to include any
measurable flow. The cohesion of clays provide resistance to failure by piping at
gradients of several hundred even under quite low confining or surcharge pressure.
So we cannot measure permeability accurately with small quantity of water.
The equation used to determine coefficient of permeability is -

K=

2.303 aL
h1

( )
A (t 2t 1) log10 h 2
a = Area of stand pipe
A=Cross sectional Area of soil sample
h1= height of water in stand pipe above datum at time t1
h2= height of water in stand pipe above datum at time t2

APPARATUS USED:
1.Permeameter consists of a) A mould of 100 mm internal dia and 127.3 mm height ( IS 2720 part
XVII) and a detachable coller with 100 mm dia and 60 mm height
b) Mould is fitted with a drainage cap having an inlet valve and air release
valve
c) Drainage base plate
2. Vertical standpipe , 3. Porous stone , 4. Filter Paper

PROCEDURE:
a) Sample Preparation:
1. 2.5 kg soil sample is taken. Water is taken as 18% (OMC) of the soil weight.
Water is added to soil and mix thoroughly.
2. Detachable base plate is put at the bottom of the plate and filter paper is
put over it.
3. Moist soil is poured into the mould into three layers. Each layer is
compacted into 25 blows with Automatic Compacting machine.
b) Two porous stone placed at top and bottom of the mould.
c) Water pipe is deaired. Valve of the drainage base plate is closed.
d) Soil sample is saturated by allowing water flowing upwards. After
saturation both top and bottom valve is closed.
e) Standpipe filled with water and connected with drainage cap inlet. As the water
flows through soil water of the stand pipe falls. Head difference is measured and k is
calculated by the equation.

OBSERVATION:
Sample diameter = 10 cm , Sample length = 13 cm
Cross sectional area = 78.54cm2
Mass of mould = 2397 g ,
Mass of soil with mould = 4376 g
Moisture constant = 18 %
Test temperature 34c
Stand pipe dia =4.05 mm
Stand pie area, a= 12.88 mm 2

OBSERVATION TABLE:
Reference
Point
1
2
3
4

Ht. above
datumn,h1
(mm)
933.6
833.6
733.6
633.6

Ht. above
outlet,h2(mm)

Time,t (min)

833.6
733.6
633.6
533.6

0.48
1.05
1.60
2.22

Ht. ratios
1.12
1.14
1.16
1.19

CALCULATIONS:
We know, co-efficient of permeability,

2.303 a L
h1
K= 1000 A 60 t log10( h2

Now for different set of reading:

K1= 8.5110-7 m/s
K2= 4.3910-7 m/s
K3= 3.3010-7 m/s
K4= 2.7910-7 m/s

Kavg.= 4.747510-7 m/s

DISCUSSION:
The average co-efficient of permeability of our soil sample is about
4.747510-7 m/s which indicates silty-clay soil.From here, we knew that silty
clay comprises of intermediate particle size,arefertile,fairly well drained and
hold more moisture than sandy soil but are easily compacted.Soils high in silt
may compact under heavy traffic and this affects the movement of air and
water in soils.

CONCLUSION:
Permeability can be defined as the ability of a porous media to allow the flow
of a fluid through it,typically expressed as the co-efficient of hydraulic
conductivity (k).A porous medium is a material , granular or fibrous,
containing void spaces.The validity of Darcys law for the test executed in the
laboratory can be evaluated.It was initially assumed for the tests that
Darcys law is valid and that the hydraulic conductivity is essentially
unaffected by hydraulic gradient.