Soil Permeability

(Week -4)

Some applications of soil permeability

Earth dams Seepage through dams (or under sheet pile wall) Stability of dam slopes

Chapter 2

ENB272: Geotechnical Engineering 1

Chaminda

Contents
What is permeability Applications of soil permeability Factors affect on soil permeability Ground water flow Laboratory measurement of permeability coefficient (k) Field measurement of k Permeability of stratified soils

Some applications of soil permeability

Pore water pressure and slope stability

Calculation of rate of settlement of clay soil deposits

What is permeability (hydraulic conductivity) - k?

A measure of how easily a fluid (e.g. water) can pass through a porous medium (e.g. soil)

Typical values of permeability

The values of k for different types of soil are typically within the range shown below Soil type Gravel Clean Sand Silt Clay k (m/sec) k > 10-1 10-2 > k >10-5 10-5 > k >10-9 k <10-9

Water flow through soil is termed as SEEPAGE

Factors affect on soil permeability

Soil type and particle size distribution (fine soils
low permeability, coarse soil high permeability)

Hydraulic or Hydrostatic (total) head

The total head of water acting at a point in a submerged soil mass is known as hydraulic or hydrostatic head and is expressed by Bernoullis equation

Soil structure: moulding water content

Total head at a point (h) = Velocity head + Pressure head + Elevation head

h total head

v2 u h= + +z wg w

v seepage velocity of water g Gravitational acceleration

w Unit weigh t of water (9.8 kN/m3 )

u pore water pressure z Elevation head above a chosen datum

Factors affect on soil permeability

Density of soil (high density low permeability, low
density high permeability)

Hydraulic or Hydrostatic (total) head

The seepage velocities in soils are normally so small that velocity head can be neglected.
Total head at a point (h) = Pressure head + Elevation head
Elevation head (Z) is measured as positive above datum U is pore water pressure at the point due to the water table above the point

Degree of saturation:

h =

+ z

Pore water pressure at P, u P = ( H Z ) w u ( H Z ) w Pressure head at P, = = H Z w w P Elevation head at P, Z = Z Total head at P, hP = pressure head + elevation head = (H - Z) + Z = H

What is the total head at P

Factors affect on soil permeability

Stress conditions:
permeability) (higher confining pressure lower

Example: Static water table

1. Calculation of total head at P Choose datum at the top of the impermeable layer

2m 1m X
Datum

u P = 4 w
ZP = 1
hP = 4 w

1m Impermeable stratum

5m

+1 = 5 m

Example: Static water table

2. Calculation of total head at X Choose datum at the top of the impermeable layer
2m 1m X 5m

Head
The value of the head depends on the choice of datum Differences in total head are required for flow (not pressure)

u X = 1 w
ZX = 4
1m X

P 1m Datum Impermeable stratum

hX =

w +4=5m w

P 1m Impermeable stratum

2 m It can be helpful to consider imaginary standpipes 5 m (piezometers/manometers) placed in the soil at the points where the head is required

The total heads at P and X are identical. Thus this imply that the total head is constant throughout the region below a static water table.

The total head is the elevation of the water level in the standpipe (piezometers/manometers) above the datum

Example: Static water table

3. Calculation of total head at P Choose datum at the water table

Water flow through soil

h

Datum

2m 5m

1m

u P = 4 w
Z P = 4

X P

Soil Sample

1m Impermeable stratum

L Darcy found that the flow (volume per unit time -q) was

hP =

4 w

4=0

proportional to the head difference h (q h ) proportional to the cross-sectional area A ( q A ) inversely proportional to the length of sample l (q 1/L)

Example: Static water table

4. Calculation of total head at X Thus Choose datum at the water table
Datum

Darcys law
q = kA h L
(2a)

2m 5m

1m

u X = 1 w
Z X = 1

where k is the coefficient of permeability or hydraulic conductivity. Equation (2a) may be written as

X P

1m Impermeable stratum

hX = w 1 = 0 w

q = kAi
or where i = h/L v = q/A

v = ki

(2b)

the hydraulic gradient the Darcys or average velocity

Again, the total head at P and X is identical, but the value is different defending on the datum

Darcys law (cont..)

Example 1 (cont..)
Step 4: Determine the flow rate, q

v = ki
The average velocity, v, calculated from the above equation is for the cross sectional area normal to the direction of flow. However, flow through soil occurs only through the interconnected voids. The velocity through void spaces is called seepage velocity, v

Volume of water collected,

q =

Q = 1 cm 3 , t = 10 sec

Q 1 = = 0 . 1 cm 3 / sec t 10

Step 5: Determine the average velocity, v

v v' = n
where n the porosity of the soil

v = A=

q A

= 78 . 5 cm 4 4 0 .1 v = = 0 . 0013 cm / sec 78 . 5

d 2

10 2

Example 1
A soil sample 10 cm in diameter is placed in a tube of 1 m long. A constant supply of water is allowed to flow into one end of the soil at A and the outflow at B is collected by a beaker (see the following figure). The average amount of water collected is 1cm3 for every 10 sec. Determine, Hydraulic gradient Flow rate Average velocity Seepage velocity if e = 0.6 Hydraulic conductivity

Example 1 (cont..)
Step 6: Determine seepage velocity, v if e=0.6

v'=

v n

n =

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

e 0 .6 = = 0 . 38 1 + e 1 + 0 .6

v'=

v 0 . 0013 = = 0 . 0034 cm / sec n 0 . 38

Step 6: Determine the hydraulic conductivity (coefficient of permeability), k

From Day' s law, q = kAi v = ki v 0 . 0013 k = = = 10 . 8 10 4 cm / sec i 1 .2

Example 1 (cont..):

(a) Hydraulic gradient

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k)

Coefficient of permeability (or hydraulic conductivity) [k] of a soil can be determined one of the following methods Laboratory methods: (a) Constant head permeability test For coarse grained soils (b) falling head permeability test For fined grained soils

Step 1: Define the datum position: top of the table Step 2: Find the total dead at A (hA) and B (hB):

u A = 1 w = w ZA =1 hA = uA + ZA =

uB = 0 w = 0 Z B = 0 .8

w +1= 2 m w

hB =

uB

+ ZB =

+ 0 .8 = 0 .8 m
Indirect methods and empirical equations

Step 3: Find the hydraulic gradient, i

h = h A h B = 2 0 .8 = 1 .2 m l = 1 .0 m h 1 .2 i= = = 1 .2 l 1
In-situ (field) methods: Pumping well test

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k) Laboratory methods

Constant head permeability test for coarse soils Soil specimen at the appropriate density is in a cylinder of cross-sectional area of A Prior to running the test, fully saturate the specimen (apply a vacuum to the specimen, use de-aired water) Vertical flow of water under a constant total head Once a steady state water flow is achieved, measure the volume of water flowing per unit time (q) and total head difference h Then from Darcys law

Example 2
In a falling-head permeability test the initial head of 1.00 m dropped to 0.35 m in 3 h, the diameter of standpipe being 5 mm. The soil specimen was 200 mm long by 100 mm in diameter. Calculate the coefficient of permeability of the soil
Standpipe

inlet
Area - a

h0 = 1.0 m, h1 = 0.35 m t1 = 3 3600 = 10800 sec l = 200 mm = 0.2 m

k = 2.3

al h log 0 At1 h1

Porous disks or filers

measurement

Sample Area sample A

h0

lL h 1

a =

0.0052 = 1.96 10 5 m 2 4 0.12 A= = 7.86 103 m 4

k = 2.3 al h log 0 = 4.85 108 m / sec At1 h1

Constant level Reservoir

ql k= Ah

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k) Laboratory methods

Falling head permeability test for fine soils Undisturbed specimens are normally tested and containing cylinder may be the sampling tube itself The length of the specimen is l and the cross section area is A. The cross section area of the standpipe is a

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k) Laboratory methods

Triaxial Flexible Wall Permeability Tests
INFLOW

OUTFLOW

h0

l h 1

Prior to running the test, fully saturate the specimen (apply a vacuum to the specimen, use de-aired water) The stand pipe is filled with water and water drains into a reservoir of constant level

hin hiout
SOIL

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k) Laboratory methods

Falling head permeability test for fine soils The fall of water level in the standpipe (relative to the reservoir level) from h0 to h1 is measured during time t1

Triaxial Flexible Wall Permeability Test

Advantages Ability to back pressure saturate Reapply isotropic stresses to simulate field conditions Independent measurement of soil sample volume change Disadvantages Requires more sophisticated equipment Requires better trained technicians
INFLOW

k = 2.3
h0

al h log 0 At1 h1

l h 1

OUTFLOW

For more accurate results, a series of tests should be run using different values of h0 and h1 and/or standpipes of different diameters (a)

hin hiout
SOIL

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k) Other methods

Indirect method: Permeability of fine grained soils can be determined indirectly from the results of consolidation test and will be discussed in ENB371

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k) In-situ methods (field methods)

For confined stratum (confined by two Assumption hydraulic gradient, i, impermeable layers)
at any distance, r, from the centre of the well is constant with the depth and is equal to the slope of water table

Empirical methods (based on research finding): For sand, Hazen (1892) showed that the approximate value of k is given by

ir =

dh dr

At distance r from the well the area through which seepage takes place, A

2 k (m / sec) = 10 2 D10
D10 is effective diameter in mm

h1

h2
H

A = 2rH
From Darcys law,
q = kAi q = k 2rH dh dr

r1
r2

k=

2.3q log(r2 / r1 ) 2H (h2 h1 )

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k) In-situ methods (field methods)

Pumping well test suitable for homogeneous coarse soils Pumping well At least 300 mm in diameter, penetrate to the bottom of the soil stratum under test, Pumping at constant rate, q , from the well Steady seepage is established, radially toward the well, resulting in water table being drawn down to form a cone of depression Water levels are observed in a number of boreholes spaced on radial line at various distances from the well

Example 3
If the pumping rate from the well, q is 0.01 m3/sec, what is the average permeability of soil

k=

2.3q log(r2 / r1 ) (h22 h12 )

r1 = 15 m r2 = 30 m h1 = 15.0 (1.9 + 1.6) = 11.5 m h2 = 15.0 (1.9 + 1.4) = 11.7 m

h1

h2

r1

r2

k=

2.3 0.01 log(30 / 15) = 0.000475 m / sec (11.7 2 11.52 )

Determination of coefficient of permeability (k) In-situ methods (field methods)

For unconfined stratum Assumption hydraulic gradient, i,
at any distance, r, from the centre of the well is constant with the depth and is equal to the slope of water table

Sources of Error in Hydraulic Conductivity Testing in Laboratory

Use of non-representative samples Voids formed during sample preparation Smear Zones: heterogeneous soil sample Alteration in Clay Chemistry Air in Sample Growth of Microorganisms Menisci Problems in Capillary Tubes Temperature Volume Change Due to Stress Change Flow Direction

ir =

dh dr

At distance r from the well, the area through which seepage takes place, A

A = 2rh

h1

h2

From Darcys law, q = kAi

q = k 2rh dh dr

r1 r2

k=

2.3q log( r2 / r1 ) (h22 h12 )

Effect of Temperature
Permeability varies with viscosity of water, which is temperature dependent. Lab k normally specified at 20C kT = k20/(T/20) T/20 = temperature correction factor which is a ratio of viscosity values, can be obtained from a chart or table

Equivalent hydraulic conductivity in stratified soil (2)

k1

H1

k1

k2

H2

k2

kx =
kz =

H1k1 + H2k2 (H1 + H2 )

kx

is the equivalent permeability coefficient in horizontal direction (Derivation Appendix 1)

H1 + H 2 H1 H 2 + k k 1 2

kz

is the equivalent permeability coefficient in vertical direction (Derivation Appendix 2)

If there are n number of layers

kx =

H1k1 + H2k2 + H3k3.......... Hnkn + (H1 + H2 + H3......... Hn ) +

is generally less than

kz =

H1 + H 2 + H 3 + .......... ........+ H n H1 H 2 H3 Hn k + k + k + ...............+ k 1 2 3 n

kz

kx

- sometimes as much as 10 times less

Example 4
A layered soil is shown in the following figure

T/20
z x

H1 = 1 m

k1 = 1 10 4 cm / sec

H 2 = 1.5 m
H3 = 2 m

k 2 = 3.2 10 2 cm / sec

k 3 = 4.1 10 5 cm / sec

Calculate: Horizontal equivalent permeability coefficient, Vertical equivalent permeability coefficient,

kx
kx kz

kz

Ratio of horizontal to vertical equivalent permeability,

Equivalent hydraulic conductivity in stratified soil (1)

In a stratified soil deposit where the hydraulic conductivity for a flow in a given direction changes from layer to layer Consider two isotropic and homogeneous soil layers of thicknesses H1 and H2 , and respective coefficients of permeability are k1 and k2
k1 H1

Example 4 (2)
The equivalent permeability coefficient in horizontal direction
H1 = 1 m

k1 = 1 10 4 cm / sec

z
H 2 = 1 .5 m

kx =

k 2 = 3.2 10 2 cm / sec

H1k1 + H2k2 + H3k3 (H1 + H2 + H3 )

H3 = 2 m

k3 = 4.1 10 5 cm / sec

k1 k2

kx =

(110+1.53200+ 2 4.1)105 (1+1.5 + 2)

H2

k2

If the layers are anisotropic, k1 and k2 represent the equivalent isotropic coefficients for the layers

kx =

(48182)105 = 10707105 = 1.07102 cm/ sec . . (4.5)

Example 4 (3)
* The equivalent permeability coefficient in vertical direction
H1 = 1 m
k1 = 1 10 4 cm / sec

Appendix -1: Equivalent Hydraulic conductivity in Horizontal direction (1)

Flow parallel to soil layers

z x

H 2 = 1 .5 m

k 2 = 3.2 10 2 cm / sec

H1 + H 2 + H3 kz = H1 H 2 H3 k + k + k 1 2 3

z x

k1

H1

k1
k2

H2

k2

H3 = 2 m

k3 = 4.1 10

cm / sec

When the flow is parallel to soil layers, the hydraulic gradient is the same at all points

kz =

1.0 + 1.5 + 2.0 105 1.0 1.5 2.0 + + 10 3200 4.1

105 = 4.5 105 = 7.65105 cm / sec 0.5883

ix = i1x = i2 x
Flow through the soil mass as a whole is equal to the sum of the flow through each of the layers

kz =

(0.1) + (0.00047) + (0.488)

4.5

qx = q1x + q2x

Example 4 (4)
* The ratio of horizontal to vertical equivalent permeability, R
H1 = 1 m

Appendix -1: Equivalent Hydraulic conductivity in Horizontal direction (2)

Flow parallel to soil layers

k1 = 1 10 4 cm / sec

z x

H 2 = 1 .5 m H3 = 2 m

k 2 = 3.2 10 2 cm / sec

kx = 1.07102 cm/ sec

kz = 7.65105 cm / sec

ix = i1x = i2 x
From Darcys law, q=Aki

qx = q1x + q2x
k1 H1 k1
k2

k3 = 4.1 10 5 cm / sec

Akxix = A1k1i1x + A2k2i2x Akx = A1k1 + A2k2

H2

k2

k x 1.07 102 R= = = 140 kz 7.65105

(H1 + H2 ) 1 kx = (H1 1) k1 + (H2 1) k2

kx =

H1k1 + H2k2 (H1 + H2 )

kx

is the equivalent permeability coefficient in horizontal direction

Summary
Soil permeability Factor affect on soil permeability Bernoullis equation and Darcys law Laboratory determination of permeability coefficient (k) Field determination of k k of stratified soils

Appendix -1: Equivalent Hydraulic conductivity in Vertical direction (1)

Flow normal to soil layers seepage in the vertical direction

z x

k1

H1

k1
k2

H2

k2

When the flow is normal to soil layers, the vertical velocity in each layer is the same

v z = v1 z = v2 z
From Darcys law, v=ki

kz

h h h = k1z 1 = k 2 z 2 ( H1 + H 2 ) H1 H2

h is the total head loss, h1 and h2 are the head losses in each of the layers

Appendix -1: Equivalent Hydraulic conductivity in Vertical direction (1)

Flow normal to soil layers seepage in the vertical direction

kz

h h h = k1 1 = k 2 2 ( H1 + H 2 ) H1 H2

For flow normal to soil layers, the head loss in the soil mass is the sum of the head losses in each layer.

h = h1 + h2
h =
kz =

kz hH 1 k hH 2 + z k1 ( H1 + H 2 ) k 2 ( H1 + H 2 )
kz
is the equivalent permeability coefficient in vertical direction

H1 + H 2 H1 H 2 + k k 1 2