Determination of hydraulic conductivity of a soil

J.E. Garcia Gonzalez

Abstract
In any civil engineering Works is always committed the ground so it is very important
to determine and analyze their interaction with water, Especially as flow in the midst of
the particles of solid soil skeleton because this dynamic governs the behavior
of the effective stress and therefore the resistance and compressibility of the substrate.
To apply Darcy's law and determine flow networks in one, two or three dimensions is
necessary to know the permeability or hydraulic conductivity of the soil that represents
how easy or hard water passes through a porous medium. For four soil samples with
varying degrees of compaction and particle size flow studies were performed using
constant head permeameter for three of the four samples (Material granular sub base
type A) and a variable load permeameter for the sample of remaining soil (silty clay
with some fine sand In both cases, energy loss data are registered in terms of height
and gauged for determining the outflow, this in order to apply Darcy's equation to
calculate the permeability coefficient.
Introduction
The Darcy law describes the basic principle of the behavior of water flow in porous
media such as soil, This work was developed by French engineer Henri Darcy in mid of
the second half of the nineteenth century using sand filters designed to clean water
from supply networks for public consumption at Dijon-France, Darcy conclude that the
flow running through the filters was linearly proportional to the cross sectional area of
the filter and the hydraulic gradient; constant ratio called permeability. Hydraulic
conductivity or permeability expresses much distance the fluid travels per unit length
and is different for each type of soil and fluid, therefore, this factor is a function of
porosity, fluid unit weight, viscosity and temperature of the liquid. This constant is
calculated experimentally in the laboratory using permeameter, containers of constant
cross-section containing a soil sample which water is circulated to establish the outflow,
energy losses and the hydraulic gradient. Generally for granular soils constant head
permeameter is used and fine-grained soils variable load permeameter handled. The
ability of soil to hold water or allow its flow is very important to many of geotechnical
applications, and contributions made by Henry Darcy are the foundations of several
studies currently underway in this field, so is necessary to quite clear the relationship
between the theoretical and experimental practices by conducting laboratory, in this
case is analyzed and tested Darcy's law by obtaining hydraulic conductivity for four soil
samples with different levels of compaction and rates of diffusion using constant and
variable load permeameter.

Faculty of Engineering, National University of Colombia

Civil engineering student, 25422308
Date: April 8, 2015

Methodology
Constant head permeameter.
When the soil sample has been previously prepared and introduced into the
permeameter compliance with paragraphs 4 and 5 of the INVE-130-07 standard
national roads and also recorded data compaction conditions as diameter, length and
sample weights, Proceed to open the valve allowing the passage of water from the filter
tank toward the permeameter until a continuous, uniform flow is obtained to ensure
stability in the gauges, absence of bubbles in the accessory device and soil saturation,
later are registered volume data collecting water ejected into a graduated container and
take the time to fill for the calculation of flow, water temperature is measured for
subsequent corrections. Heights are determined in each of the piezometers located
along the container, in this case the piezometric tubes are separated from each other 5
cm, now load losses and hydraulic gradients are calculated. Finally using Darcy's law,
data is replaced and permeability factor k is obtained. The constant head permeameter
(image 1) and equations 1, 2, 3 are shown for the calculations.

Image1. Constant head permeameter.

Q=

i=

(1)

h
Lc

(2)

Q
Ai

(3)

k=

Variable load permeameter.

Well as samples for constant head permeameter, required some preparation
and data acquisition rates of soil properties. When the specimen is ready, it
begins to water flow and measured pressure head values for various time
points (image 2) from the beginning of flow and the water temperature is
taken out to make corrections. Also must know the diameter of the sample
and the diameter of the tube through which water enters the permeameter.
Taking the necessary registers, the following equation (4) is applied to find
the hydraulic conductivity of the soil analyzed:

k=

aL
h1
ln
h2
A (t 2t 1)

(4)

Image 2. Manometer variable load permeameter

Results and discussion

All test pieces used in the constant load permeameter had a cross-section of 4,301E03 and water was 16 degrees Celsius. Initial and corrected permeabilities are:

Sample 1.
Caudal= 1,63021E-05
Kcal= 0,0022

m
s

vs= 5,7171E-03

m
s

Sample 2.

m3
Caudal= 1,5333E-05 s

e=2,7417
n=0.7327

m
s

KCorr= 0,0024

m3
s

e=2,6127

Kcal = 0,0020

m
s

n=0.7232

KCorr= 0,0023

m
s

vs= vs= 5,4483E-03

m
s

Sample 3.

m3
Caudal= 1,3500E-05 s

e=2.5611

Kcal = 0, 0011

m
s

n=0.7192

KCorr=0, 0012

m
s

vs= vs= 4,8237-03

m
s

The differences between these permeability values are very small, Even so it is evident
that the more compacted the soil sample, the flow is more difficult, thus speeds through
the soil (Vs) decreases with smaller the pores.
Pressure losses over the length of the permeameter expressed in the following graphs:

Figure 1. Head and head loss for specimen 1.

Figure 2. Head and head loss for specimen 2.

Figure 3. Head and head loss for specimen 3.

Analyzing the graphics is possible to determine that the higher hydraulic conductivity
factor greater will be lost.
For the silt clay soil with some fine sand hydraulic conductivity was initially established

m
s , to make the correction for temperature and viscosity, a new value is

1,7707E-07

obtained 1,9570E-07

m
s . Applying the concepts of phase relationships, the following

values were obtained:

t= 2,0370

g
cm3

e=1,0499

Gs= 2,72

n=0,5122

=0,5352

Vs=6,5765E-06

m
s

By comparing the values obtained with the assay permeability constant head and
variable head a big difference shows, this is due to particle size differences between
the soils studied, first granular soils have the larger pores, thus the liquid will flow
faster, While in the fine soils reduced grain sizes interfere with fluid movement. It
should also be noted that the sample contains some fine soil clays with laminar
structure impede the flow. Clearly, the hydraulic conductivity is not an isotropic property
because the soil is not a completely homogeneous structure and which has many
discontinuities.
Conclusions

The permeability coefficient varies with respect to compaction of the soil, thus
the greater the degree of compaction, lower permeability.

Granular soils have higher hydraulic conductivity than fine soil, this is mainly
due to the sizes of grains of each soil type.

Greater magnitudes of pressure loss occur when the soil has low
permeabilities.

The fact that the hydraulic conductivity is isotropic property due to the various
structures that may present a single soil type.

Bibliography

Instituto Nacional de Vas. I.N.V.E-130-07. Permeabilidad de suelos

granulares (cabeza constante). Retrieved April 1, 2015. available
online:
ftp://ftp.ani.gov.co/Transversal%20del%20Sisga/5.Hidraulica/Auxiliar/ANX10%20Especificaciones%20Tecnicas
%20Invias/normas%20Invias/Normas/Invias/Ensayos/Norma%20INV
%20E-130-07.pdf

Lambe, T. W., Whitman, R. V. (1979). Mecnica de suelos. second

edition. Limusa. Mexico.

Attachments
Development calculations
1. constant head permeameter
1.1
Sample 1. constant head permeameter
n

Lc (m)

h (m)

h (m)

(k) (m/s)

1
2
3
4
5
6

0,0000
0,0500
0,1000
0,1500
0,2000
0,2500

1,5260
1,4730
1,4060
1,3270
1,2180
1,0960

0,0000
0,0530
0,1200
0,1990
0,3080
0,4300

0,0036
0,0032
0,0029
0,0025
0,0022
0,0024

v (ml)

vo(m^3)

time (s)

510

0,00051

32

500

0,0005

30

Average -->

1,0600
1,2000
1,3267
1,5400
1,7200
corr
Q
(m^3/s)
1,59375E
-05
1,66667E
-05
1,63021E
-05

cross sectional area m^2--->

4,301E03

1.2
Sample 2. constant head permeameter
n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Lc (m)

h (m)

0,0000
0,0500
0,1000
0,1500
0,2000
0,3000
0,3500

1,5890
1,5890
1,5070
1,4270
1,3560
1,1300
0,9800

h (m)

(k) (m/s)

0,0000
0,0000
0,0820
0,1620
0,2330
0,4590
0,6090

0,0000 0,8200 0,0043

1,0800 0,0033
1,1650 0,0031
1,5300 0,0023
1,7400 0,0020
corr
0,0023
v (ml)
vo(m^3) time (s)
Q (m^3/s)
460 0,00046
30 1,53333E-05
460 0,00046
30 1,53333E-05
Average -->
1,5333E-05
cross sectional area m^2--->

0,00430084

1.3
Sample 3. constant head permeameter
n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Lc (m)

h (m)

h (m)

0,0000
0,0500
0,1000
0,1500
0,2000
0,2500
0,3000
0,3500

1,7310
1,7310
1,6940
1,5180
1,4130
1,2510
1,0020
0,6860

0,0000
0,0000
0,0370
0,2130
0,3180
0,4800
0,7290
1,0450

(k)
(m/s)

0,0000 0,3700 0,0085

1,4200 0,0022
1,5900 0,0020
1,9200 0,0016
2,4300 0,0013
2,9857 0,0011
corr
0,0012

time
v (ml)
vo(m^3) (s)
Q (m^3/s)
0,00040
405
5
30 1,350E-05
0,00040
405
5
30 1,350E-05
1,3500EAverage -->
05
cross sectional area m^2--- 0,0043008

>

2. Variable head permeameter

Variable head permeameter
Tiempo
h
mi
(m)
n
n
seg
1

2
1,89
2 7

5,19

3 1,8
1,70
4 2

1,59
29,3
4
3
20,8
5 1,45 13
9
1,34
6 2
6 44,8
47,4
7 1
26
2

time (s)

Total time
acum

h (m)

0,0000E+
00
2,4519E+
02
2,4159E+
02
2,6933E+
02
8,0089E+
02
4,0480E+
02
1,6074E+
03

0,0000E+
00
2,4519E+
02
4,8678E+
02
7,5611E+
02
1,5570E+
03
1,9618E+
03
3,5692E+
03

0,0000E
+00
1,0300E01
2,0000E01
2,9800E01
5,5000E01
6,5800E01
1,0000E
+00

k with t1=0 k variando

(m/s)
t y h (m/s)
1,9663E-07
1,9736E-07
1,9457E-07
1,8833E-07
1,8544E-07
1,7707E-07
1,9570E-07

L (m )-->
cross sectional area m^2
soil-->
cross sectional area pipe
m^2->

0,1162
0,0081073
2
6,36173E05

1,9663E07
1,9810E07
1,8953E07
1,8243E07
1,7435E07
1,6686E07
1,8442E07