Experiment#08

Determination of Coefficient
Falling Head Apparatus

of

Permeability

by

Objective
This test method measures hydraulic conductivity also known as co-efficient of permeability of
fine grained materials (soils) with a rigid-wall mold permeameter. Such materials can be tested
whose hydrullic conductivity is less than or equal to 10-3 to 10-6cm per sec.

Need And Scope of The Experiment

This test method applies to one-dimensional, laminar flow of water within laboratory-

compacted, porous materials

The hydraulic conductivity of porous materials generally decreases with an increasing
amount of air in the pores of the material. This test method applies to porous materials

containing little or no air.

The test method is designed to minimize the amount of air in the test specimen.

Theory
Factor affecting permeability (k)
Fluid viscosity is inversely proportional to k.
Pore size distribution is directly related to k.
Grain size distribution is directly related to k.
Shape of particles are related to permeability if particles are of irregular shape than
permeability will increase.
Void ratio is directly proportional to k.
Roughness is inversely proportional to permeability.
Degree of saturation is directly proportional to k.
Temperature is directly proportional to k.
is inversely proportional to k.

Falling Head Permeability Test Apparatus

The general expression for k is

k=

h
2.303 aL
log 10 1
At
h2

Apparatus
Falling Head:
The system shall allow for measurement of the applied head loss, thus hydraulic gradient, to
within -/+5 % or better at any time. In addition, the ratio of initial head loss divided by final
head loss over an interval of time shall be measured such that this computed ratio is accurate
to within -/+ 5 %. The head loss shall be measured with a pressure gage, electronic pressure
transducer, engineers scale, graduated pipette, or any other device of suitable accuracy.
Falling head tests may be performed with either a constant tail-water elevation (Test Method
B), rising tail-water elevation (Test Method C), or increasing tail-water elevation (Test
Method D).
Premeameter Cell
The Premeameter cell shall consist of a rigid-wall compaction mold into which the material
to be tested is compacted and in which the compacted material is permeated. Unlike Constant

head test the Premeameter cell in this case consist of porous stone at the top and bottom
instead of porous disc. The Premeameter shall be designed and operated so that permeant
water flows downward through the test specimen. Cell is made so as to perform test on clays
and very very fine grained soils.
Beaker
Weighing Balance
Hammer

Procedure
Take the soil sample of 1 kg into a pre-weighed container. Now Place a porous stone at the bottom
of test cylinder and pour the soil into the test cylinder in three layers.
Compact each layer by hammer to achieve a compacted mass. Level the soil at the top and
place other porous stone and cap onto the surface and tight the three nuts/clamps.
The test cylinder is connected to a monomeric head which is connected directly to the reservoir.
The whole assembly contains three valves, one at the bottom of the test cylinder,other at top of the
test cylinder and the rest is attached at the bottom of monomeric column.
Open all the three valves and start pouring water into the manometric column.
Let the sample saturate completely and make sure that air bubbles are removed completely through
bottom valve of test cylinder.
Close the valve and let the water rise into the manometric column to a specific height. Now open
the valve and let the manometric column drop to a specific height.
Record the time accounting for the drop of water at the same time. Perform the same for two more
readings.
Calculate the co-efficient of permeability for all three falling heads and report the average of the
three as co-efficient of permeability of representative sample.

Observations & Calculations

Cross-sectional area of the soil column = A = 1000 mm2
Length of specimen = L = 200 mm
Area of stand pipe = a = 40 mm2

Head at t1= 0 = h1 = 500 mm

Head at t2 = 180 sec = h2 =300 mm

k =2. 303

k =2.303

h
aL
log 10 1
At
h2

( 0.4 ) (20)
50
log 10
30
( 10 ) (180)

k =2.27 103

k =0.00227

cm
sec

cm
sec

Reference
ASTM D5084
Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Saturated Porous
Materials using a Flexible Wall Permeameter
Comments
In this experiment, we determined the coefficient of permeability by falling head method.
Greater the value of coefficient of permeability more easily water can flow through the soil.
Coefficient of permeability is used to assess drainage characteristics of soil, to predict rate of
settlement founded on soil bed. Our coefficient of permeability is 0.00227 cm/sec.