Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202
DOI 10.1007/s10706-006-9103-6
ORIGINAL PAPER
A modified permeameter for determination of unsaturated
coefficient of permeability
Sai K. Vanapalli Vinod K. Garga
Patrick Brisson
Received: 11 October 2005 / Accepted: 18 August 2006 / Published online: 25 October 2006

Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2006
Abstract The design details of a modified
permeameter used for determining the unsatu-
rated coefficient of permeability of tailings are
presented in this Paper. This permeameter can
accommodate a large tailings specimen,
200 200 400 mm high, and uses the
Instantaneous Profile Method (IPM) to deter-
mine the variation of unsaturated coefficient of
permeability with respect to soil suction using a
single specimen. The soil-water characteristic
curve data can also be simultaneously determined
from the modified permeameter. The key design
features in comparison to a conventional perme-
ameter include the provision of adjustable sensors
that move along with the tailings as it settles due
to desaturation during the testing period. The
advantages of using a modified permeameter in
the determination of the coefficient of perme-
ability of unsaturated tailings are also discussed in
this paper. Tests were carried out by providing
suction using hanging column technique in the
suction range of 010 kPa. Such an apparatus can
easily be modified to accommodate higher suction
values.
S. K. Vanapalli (&) V. K. Garga P. Brisson
Civil Engineering Department, University of Ottawa,
161 Louis Pasteur St (A-020), Ottawa, ON,
CanadaK1N 6N5
e-mail: vanapall@eng.uottawa.ca
Keywords Unsaturated soils Tailings
Permeability Instrumentation Modified
permeameter Suction
1 Introduction
Several experimental methods are available to
determine the coefficient of permeability in
unsaturated soils. However, the unsaturated flow
behaviour is commonly predicted and not mea-
sured. This has become a conventional engineering
practice since the direct measurements of unsat-
urated flow properties require elaborate equip-
ment and qualified personnel, which prove to be
time-consuming and expensive. Due to these
reasons, several investigators have focussed their
research on developing procedures to predict the
unsaturated coefficient of permeability, kunsat,
using the saturated coefficient of permeability,
ksat, and the soil-water characteristic curve
(SWCC) (Brooks and Corey 1964; Mualem 1976;
van Genuchten 1980; Fredlund et al. 1994; Leong
and Rahardjo 1997). The SWCC is defined as the
relationship between the water content (gravi-
metric w, or volumetric h) or degree of saturation,
S, and the soil suction, w. Several researchers
have also proposed further simplifications in the
prediction of unsaturated flow behaviour of soils
based on conventional soil properties such as
grain size analysis, degree of saturation, and
123
192
Atterberg limits (Gupta and Larson 1979;
Aubertin et al. 1998; Fredlund et al. 1997; Vana-
palli and Lobbezoo 2002).
Many of the prediction procedures available in
the literature that use the saturated coefficient of
permeability, ksat, and the SWCC provide
reasonably good comparisons between the mea-
sured and predicted values of the coefficient of
permeability, kunsat of unsaturated soils. These
comparisons are usually made between the
predicted results and the laboratory test data
determined using small size specimens (approxi-
mately 5063.5 mm diameter and 20 mm height).
Small size specimens are used in laboratory testing
for various reasons that include the availability of
testing equipment, testing time and fewer logistic
requirements. Several factors such as the density,
soil structure, compaction water content, stress
state, mineralogy, and hysteresis influence the
SWCC behaviour (Vanapalli et al. 1999; Zapata
et al. 2000). The parameters that influence the
SWCC behaviour also influence the flow behav-
iour in unsaturated soils.
A number of studies have shown significant
differences between the predicted unsaturated
flow behaviour using the SWCC and the field
measured unsaturated flow behaviour (Meerdink
et al. 1996; Amraoui et al. 1998). The differences
between the predicted and measured flow
behaviour can be attributed to 3-D seepage pat-
tern and more representative nature of the soil
mass being tested. The limitation of non-repre-
sentative size of the specimen used in the labo-
ratory to estimate the flow behaviour in the field,
in both saturated and unsaturated soils has now
been well recognised (Daniel 1984; Garga 1988;
Elsbury et al. 1990; Benson et al. 1994). For this
reason, many researchers recommend reliance on
field measurements or the use of large size spec-
imens rather than laboratory measurements on
small size specimens (Fredlund and Rahardjo
1993; Benson et al. 1994; Houston and Houston
1995; Benson and Gribb 1997).
The studies summarized in this paper was ini-
tiated when a preliminary search for permeability
functions (i.e., relationship between the unsatu-
rated coefficient of permeability, kunsat versus
suction) for nickel mine tailings yielded limited
data (Gonzalez and Adams 1980; Vick 1983).
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Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202
Therefore, research was focussed on the devel-
opment of an experimental technique using large
tailings specimen in the laboratory to determine
the flow behaviour. A permeameter was specially
designed and an experimental program was
undertaken. The features incorporated in the new
device in comparison to a conventional perme-
ameter include the use of a large specimen and
monitoring specimen consolidation while collect-
ing the flow characteristics data using non-
destructive testing techniques. Design details of
the new permeameter are described in this Paper.
2 Background
Several experimental methods are available to
determine the coefficient of permeability of
unsaturated soils (Klute 1972; Elzeftawy and
Mansell 1975; Raimbault 1986; Abu-Hejleh et al.
1993; Amraoui et al. 1998; Meerdink et al. 1996;
Benson and Gribb 1997). Benson and Gribb 1997,
have summarized 14 different techniques that
include both laboratory and field methods for
determining the coefficient of permeability of
unsaturated soils. The laboratory methods are
based either on steady state or transient state flow
conditions. The steady state methods require a
series of tests to obtain water content, w, and soil
suction, w, data to interpret the unsaturated flow
behaviour (Klute 1972; Benson and Gribb 1997).
The main drawback associated with these methods
is the long time period required to attain
equilibrium conditions to properly assess the flow
behaviour characteristics.
The centrifuge method is not feasible for rou-
tine geotechnical testing as it requires a com-
mercial centrifuge and elaborate testing facilities
(Nimmo et al. 1987). This method also applies
large stresses to the specimen through centrifugal
forces during testing and is suitable only for soils
whose flow behaviour is not sensitive to applied
stress state.
Some of the transient state methods, namely
the BruceKlute Method (Bruce and Klute 1956),
and the different outflow methods (Kool et al.
1985) are based on diffusivity relationships that
require the estimation or determination of a large
number of parameters. In addition, these methods
Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202
also require SWCC determination on separate
specimens. The flow behaviour characteristics can
be significantly influenced even if there are small
differences in the specimens generally used for
testing. In other words, great care has to be taken
in the preparation of identical specimens for
testing.
Benson and Gribb (1997) report lack of accu-
racy in the test results obtained using the thermal
method. The major disadvantage with respect to
this method is related to the difficulties associated
with the identification of specimen equilibrium
conditions. There can be significant scatter in the
measured results if the equilibrium conditions are
not properly assessed in this method.
The Instantaneous Profile Method (IPM) is
one of the most promising and practical methods
for determining the unsaturated flow behaviour.
Richards and Weeks (1953) originally described
this method. Several other investigators used this
technique (Klute 1972; Hamilton et al. 1979;
Meerdink et al. 1996).
The flow behaviour in unsaturated conditions
using IPM can be determined using Darcys law
as shown below:


DV 1
kunsat
1 dam. The terms feed, overflow and underflow,
ADt dh=dz
where DV is the volume of water flowing along a
known depth, z, in a specimen of cross-sectional
area, A, over a given time increment, Dt, under a
hydraulic gradient, dh/dz.
The volume of water flowing through a given
location in an unsaturated soil is obtained from
Eq. 2.
Z zi
DV A Dh dz 2 whereas the coarser particles (underflow) are
zo
where zo and zi are any two elevations of depths.
The volume of water flowing between these two
depths is obtained by measuring the volumetric
water content, h, at these two known depths at a
given time.
Equation 3 relates the hydraulic gradient,
dh/dz to the measured matric suction, dw and two
known depths at which volumetric water
contents, h, are also known.
193



dh dw

1 3
dz dz
The soil-water characteristics can be measured in
the IPM both in the desorption (i.e., drying) and
absorption (i.e., wetting) stages using a single
specimen. The IPM method conventionally uses a
large (approximately 0.15 m long) single speci-
men, contrary to other transient methods.
Furthermore, the IPM requires significantly less
time to obtain the unsaturated flow characteristics
in comparison to other methods that use large
size specimens.
3 Tailings properties
The laboratory studies reported in this paper
were undertaken on nickel tailings obtained from
a local mine. Nickel is normally mined from
parent rock containing minerals such as pyrrho-
tite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. These minerals are
composed of both iron and sulphides.
Various specimens were collected from the
mine site to properly represent the different
gradations that were found at a nickel tailings
frequently used in tailings dam technology, refer
to the size fractions found in the slurry at dif-
ferent location of the deposition line. The whole
tailings slurry that is hydraulically transported to
the impoundment reservoir is known as the feed.
As the feed reaches the impoundment, it often
passes through a separating mechanical device
known as a cyclone, which separates the feed
into fine and coarse fraction. The finer particles
(overflow) are deposited in the impoundment,
generally used as fill material for the embank-
ment, or as a cemented backfill to fill mine
workings.
The collected tailings specimens from the dis-
charge line were stored at room temperature in
sealed pails for several years before they were
used for testing. Specimens were carefully
removed from the original pails in which the
tailings that had settled under their own weight
using a piston sampler. These are termed
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194 Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202

Table 1 Physical properties of tailings materials content. The volumetric water content, h, in the
Properties Overflow Underflow compacted soils can be reliably determined using
fixed TDR probes in compacted specimens since
Clay (%) 0 3.5 there is no concern related to the possibility of
Silt (%) 100 27.4
Sand (%) 0 69.1
formation of water pockets near the TDR parallel
D10 (mm) 0.0161 0.0261 probes.
D30 (mm) 0.0180 0.0727 The permeameters used for determining the
D60 (mm) 0.0206 0.1356 coefficient of permeability of compacted soils
Coefficient of curvature, Cc 1.0 1.5
Coefficient of uniformity, Cu 1.3 5.2
cannot be directly used to determine the flow
Specific gravity, Gs 2.91 2.99 characteristics of tailings under unsaturated con-
Liquid limit, wL (%) 31.1 8.4 ditions. Tailings are an industry by-product and
Plastic limit, wP(%) N/A N/A have characteristics that are different from natu-
Saturated coefficient 1 106 2.4 103
of permeability,
rally occurring soils or compacted soils. It is dif-
ksat (cm/s) ficult to duplicate the depositional conditions of
Volumetric water 0.60 0.47 natural tailings and its drainage conditions that
content (m3/m3) are typically found in tailings dams. If fixed TDR
Gravimetric water 50.5 35.0
content (%)
probes are used in the permeameter with tailings
that are typically in a state of slurry, then during
the initial stages of the measurement of flow
undisturbed specimens in this paper. The dis- behaviour, it is likely that water pockets will be
turbed tailings, or re-slurried tailings, refer to formed around the TDR probes. The water
the tailings specimens that were stirred to attain pocket formation can also occur during consoli-
their original slurry consistency. Unless otherwise dation of the sample while the sample is desatu-
specified, the term tailings is used in this Paper rating. Design modifications are therefore
refers to the re-slurried tailings. necessary to measure the volumetric water con-
The nickel tailings under dry conditions are tent of the sample during the entire duration of
grey in colour. The same tailings under wet con- the test.
ditions turn black in color. They also release a
particular odour, associated with the presence of
sulphur in the host rock. Physical properties of 5 The modified permeameter
these tailings along with the saturated coefficient
of permeability are summarized in Table 1. The modifications include using a large size
sample; the ability to accommodate mobile sen-
sors to alleviate the problems associated with the
4 Permeameter and the instantaneous profile formation of water pockets and to use the same
method test specimen and determine the SWCC and
unsaturated coefficient of permeability of the
Several investigators have determined the unsat- tailings over a large range of saturation.
urated coefficient of permeability of compacted Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram with the
specimens in the laboratory following the wetting details of the instrumentation. This permeameter
front using the IPM (Hamilton et al. 1979; can accommodate a large sample of tailings,
Merdink et al. 1996). The IPM requires mea- 200 200 400 mm high. The matric suction
surements of water content and matric suction to in the soil specimen was proposed to be deter-
determine the unsaturated coefficient of perme- mined using thermal conductivity sensors and
ability. In this procedure, soil specimen has to be tensiometers. Attempts were made to measure
dismantled at different suction values to deter- the volumetric moisture content using the TDR
mine the water content or a technique such as technique as described below. However, this
Time Deflection Reflectometry (TDR) probes technique showed a significant scatter in results
has to be used to measure the volumetric water that was attributed to the mineral content in the

123
Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202 195

Fig. 1 Schematic of the

modified permeameter
with the instrumentation
details

tailings sample. Hence a specially designed sam-
pling tube was used for this purpose to determine
the water content of soil sample at different val-
ues of suction.
5.1 Time domain reflectometry (TDR)
The TDR sensors were accommodated such that
they were mobile and not fixed in the modified
permeameter. The provision of mobile TDR
sensors was included in the design to avoid the
formation of voids around the probes rods during
the settlement of tailings. A counterweight system
was used to accomplish the mobility of the sen-
sors with very little friction during the testing
period. The TDR probes were essentially placed
in a state of buoyant condition in the sample with
the provision of counter weight balancing system.
values determined and the measurements using
TDR. In an attempt to explain the discrepancies
between the direct laboratory results and the
TDR results of volumetric water contents, the
tailings were tested for their electrical conduc-
tivity and magnetic field properties. The nickel
tailings proved to be highly conductive both with
respect to electrical and magnetic fields (most
likely due to the presence of iron found in the
pyrite and pyrrhotite). Robinson et al. 1994,
studies show that iron minerals significantly affect
the determination of water content using TDR.
Due to this reason, a second system was required to
validate the results of water content measurements
100
90
80
Water Content (%)

Measured (TDR)
Only a small vertical pressure was required for
70 Theoretical
the movement of TDR sensors under buoyant Gravimetric
60
conditions. The tailings sample consolidating un-
50
der its own weight provided the necessary vertical
40
pressure such that the TDR sensors could slide
30
without causing voids. More details about the
20
counterweight system are detailed in a later
10
section.
0
Preliminary calibration of the TDR equipment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
in tailings material provided erratic results. Test No.
Figure 2 shows the scatter in results between the Fig. 2 Comparison of theoretical and experimental volu-
directly measured volumetric water content (h) metric water contents

123
196
obtained using TDR. This was achieved by
collecting small samples at different depths using
a sampling tool from the modified permeameter
using minimally intrusive method for direct
determination of the water content. More details
of the sampling tool are provided in a later
section.
5.2 Counterweight system and measures
for arresting leakage
Figure 3 shows a schematic of the balancing
counterweights (shown as 1 and 2) that maintain
the TDR probes in a free-floating condition.
Leaks were anticipated at the interface between
the sliding arms, holding the TDR probes, and the
permeameter walls. Combinations of Teflon,
various foam tapes, and numerous types of grea-
ses were evaluated for eliminating leakage. The
water-tightness and mobility of the sensors was
best achieved with a bead of graphite based
Fig. 3 Schematic of the modified permeameters counter-
weight system
123
Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202
grease applied at the probes sliding arms, (shown
as 4 in Fig. 3). This grease does not creep when
applied on a vertical surface.
5.3 Sampling tool
The sampling tool, shown in Fig. 4, is a device
that provides access to collect a small specimen
from the large size tailings specimen and allows
easy, accurate and direct determination of the
gravimetric water content at different elevations
at different time intervals of testing. The sampling
tool also allows the test to be continuous by not
requiring the test to be halted for dismantling
purposes. The advantage of such a device lies in
its ability to allow tailings to consolidate in and
Fig. 4 The sampling tool
Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202
around it, even though the sampling tool is fixed
to the permeameter wall. Hence, there is very
little disturbance in the tailings specimen. This
feature eliminates the concern of void formation
around intrusions in the specimen during testing.
Figure 4 (label 1) indicates the exterior wall of
the permeameter, through which a support (5) is
introduced to hold the sampling tool in a hori-
zontal position while preventing the flow of air
and water from and out of the system by means of
O-ring seals (6). The sampling tool is composed of
two cylinders. The outer cylinder acts as a sleeve
for the inner cylinder. An opening is introduced
at the same location along both cylinders, which
allows the slurry sample to flow through the
sampling tool during testing. In order to collect a
small sample for determining the water content,
the knob connected to the inner cylinder is
rotated by 90 degrees to trap a small sample of
the soil in the opening of the interior cylinder.
The O-rings located just besides the opening (4)
seal the sample in the outer sleeve preventing
changes in the water content.
In the present study, three sampling tubes were
installed on different sides of the permeameter at
different heights. Provisions were made to
determine the soil suction using the tensiometers
at approximately same heights. The fourth side
Fig. 5 Base plate of modified permeameter (porous
ceramic stone and seal plates)
197
was left bare. A high air-entry porous ceramic
disk of 1 bar was used in the modified perme-
ameter in conjunction with the hanging column of
water to create a negative pressure head on the
sample above the porous ceramic disk.
Figure 5 shows the design details of the base of
the modified permeameter. The porous ceramic
disk was fitted into an aluminum collar (Arrow 1)
in such a way that the ceramic plate or stone
could be disassembled from the permeameter.
Such a provision helps to first saturate the cera-
mic plate externally and then allows its placement
in the permeameter. The ceramic disk was held in
the aluminum collar using all weather silicon
grease (2).
5.4 Tensiometers
Thermal conductivity matric suction sensors (TC
sensors) and tensiometers were originally selected
to measure the matric suction in the tailings
specimen. However, erroneous voltage readings
from the matric suction sensors were observed
due to very minor fluctuations from the power
source. Hence, matric suction measurements in
this research study were measured using only
tensiometers.
Commercial tensiometers (model 2100 F from
Soilmoisture Equipment Corporation) were used.
These tensiometers can be used in the 085 kPa
range of suction. The tensiometers were capable
of measuring suction almost instantaneously; in
comparison, the TC sensors required a heating
time of 50 s prior to providing a measurement.
5.5 Hanging column technique
The tailings specimen was desaturated by using
the hanging column technique. Different values
of suction were achieved in the tailings specimen
by adjusting the height of a hanging column of
water. The suction values in the tailing specimen
can be determined by measuring the vertical dis-
tance between the surface of the water in the
column and the centre of the soil specimen. In the
low suction range, the suction in the specimen at
different locations was also verified with the
tensiometers inserted in the tailings sample.
123
198
6 Trial tests
Trial tests were conducted to determine the
coefficient of permeability of unsaturated tailings
using coarse underflow tailings. The underflow
tailings grain size characteristics are similar to
coarse silt with a low air-entry value. These tests
visibly indicated a significant formation of air
bubbles below the high air-entry porous ceramic
disk. Since the interface between the porous
ceramic disk and the water from the hanging
column was the location where the applied suc-
tion was transmitted to the sample, the presence
of these air bubbles was not acceptable. Hence, a
special flushing system was required to remove
the accumulated air below the ceramic disk. In
the IPM, measurement of total volume of water
that has drained from the tailings sample is not
required. Therefore, a different technique com-
prising of tubing, valves, and hypodermic syringes
was used to flush out the air bubbles from the
porous ceramic disk.
Figure 6 shows a schematic of the tubes and
syringes used to flush out the air bubbles. On the
underside of the collar, at each corner, small
grooves were machined to create indentations.
The air bubbles, which accumulated at the highest
point of the machined grooves, were removed
using Teflon tubes which were attached to the
aluminum collar using the syringes. This tech-
nique worked well and served its function both
for filling the groves with deaired water as well as
for removing the bubbles. Figure 7 shows the
assembly of the porous ceramic stone with the
flushing system connections.
Fig. 6 Schematic of the flushing system
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Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202
Fig. 7 Assembly of the porous ceramic stone with the
flushing systems connections
6.1 Permeameter cell assembly
Figure 8 shows the assembled details of the new
permeameter. The ceramic stone is first saturated
and then seated and supported on the bottom
plate of the modified permeameter. The lower
drainage valve is maintained closed at this stage
and the grooves below the ceramic disc are filled
with deaired water. The collar is fastened to the
seal to minimize air entrapment between the
collar and the seal, and to eliminate the possibility
of leaks. The Teflon tubes of the flushing system
are then connected to the ceramic plates collar
and threaded through the top of the modified
permeameter. A rubber gasket is then positioned
around the seal and the side-walls of the modified
permeameter and fastened to the bottom plate by
32 screws. The modified permeameter is now
ready to be fitted with the sliding arms. These
measures ensure that the bottom of the modified
permeameter is air and watertight.
The sliding arms are then slid in place, along
with the counterweight system. Once all the side-
mounted parts are in place, a bead of graphite-
based grease is caulked around the TDR opening
in the side-walls. The counterweights are then
adjusted to ensure a uniform bead of grease
around the opening.
The sampling tools are then inserted in pre-
numbered ports to ensure that no mistakes occur
Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202
Fig. 8 The modified permeameter along with the coun-
terweight system
during the removal and drying of the devices for
the determination of gravimetric water content.
As a precautionary measure air from the tubes of
the flushing system has to be removed prior to
placing the sample. The modified permeameter is
now essentially ready for testing with the tailings
sample (see Fig. 9).
6.2 Sample placement in the modified
permeameter
The samples (i.e., tailings) were thoroughly mixed
in the containers they were stored to achieve a
homogeneous mixture of slurry prior to placing in
the modified permeameter. This was done using a
paint stirrer that was attached to a drill. Prior to
stirring the tailings, it was ensured that there were
no lumps in the tailings. The prepared homoge-
neous tailings slurry was then poured in the modi-
fied permeameter. The sample was left in place to
settle over a period of 12 h. The excess free-
standing water was removed. The instrumentation,
199
Fig. 9 Modified permeameter ready for testing
which included tensiometers and sampling tools
were inserted at the same depths along the length
of soil specimen in the modified permeameter.
At this time, the test can be initiated by open-
ing the valve allowing drainage from the specimen
once all the instrumentation is put in place. The
nine sampling tools indirectly dictate the length of
a test. A sample from the sampling tool can be
collected when it is judged that data will con-
tribute to the SWCC and in the determination of
the unsaturated coefficient of permeability. Once
all the sampling tools contain a sample, the test is
stopped. It is for this reason that a reasonable
estimate was necessary before testing. SoilVision
(1999) software was used to estimate the suction
values to determine when samples had to be col-
lected using the sampling tool.
The targeted values of suction were achieved
using the hanging column technique as detailed
earlier. A sample was retrieved with the sampling
tool after achieving equilibration conditions using
the hanging column technique and tensiometer.
Representative soil samples were collected after
having removed the sampling tools from the
modified permeameter to determine the water
content of the time dependant samples.
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200 Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202

7 Determination of the coefficient  8

of permeability
The grain size distribution of the feed, overflow
and underflow are shown in Fig. 10. These sam-
ples of these three materials were supplied by the
mining company. Table 1 provides the grain size
distribution of the overflow and underflow sam-
ples and also the saturated coefficient of perme-
ability, ksat of both materials that was determined
in the laboratory using the conventional constant
head permeameter method.
Several investigators have provided mathemat-
ical functions to predict the SWCC based on the
physical properties of the soils (Gupta and Larson
1979; Fredlund et al. 1997). The SoilVision soft-
ware package allows the user to predict SWCC
from the grain size distribution (SoilVision 1999).
The variation of the coefficient of permeability of
unsaturated soils can then be predicted using the
SWCC and the saturated coefficient of perme-
ability, ksat. This commercial software requires any
three of the following four parameters to predict
SWCC; the volumetric water content, h; the
gravimetric water content, w; the dry density, qd;
and/or the specific gravity, Gs, In addition, Soil-
Vision can also be used to predict the flow behav-
iour in unsaturated soils using several methods
such as Fredlund et al. 1994; van Genuchten 1980;
Brooks and Corey 1964.
Table 1 summarizes the input parameters used
to estimate the SWCC of the underflow sample.
The method described by Fredlund et al. (1997),
(Eq. 4), was chosen for estimating the SWCC of
the sample.
100
Cumulative Percent Passing (%)
 37 9 2
1 ln 1 d 5 =
dr <
Pp d  ga gn gm 1
4  
ln exp1 d : ln 1 ddmr ;
4
where Pp(d) is the percent passing a particular
grain size d. ga denotes fitting parameter corre-
sponding to the initial break in the grain size
curve. gn denotes fitting parameter corresponding
to the maximum slope of the grain size curve. gm
denotes fitting parameter corresponding to the
curvature of the grain size curve. d denotes the
particle diameter (mm) dr denotes residual par-
ticle diameter (mm) dm denotes the minimum
particle diameter (mm).
The predicted SWCC for the underflow sample
along with the measured SWCC described earlier
in the paper is shown in Fig. 11. The curve is
plotted only for a suction range of 0.1100 kPa.
The estimated air-entry value is approximately
1.5 kPa for the coarse underflow sample. The
tests were performed between suction values of
010 kPa as these tailings become relatively de-
saturated over this range. For the sake of com-
parison, SWCC of the finer overflow material was
also determined over the same suction range
(Fig. 12).
7.1 Predicted coefficient of permeability
for the tailings samples
Brooks and Corey 1964, equation was used for
predicting the coefficient of permeability func-
tion using the SWCC for both tailings samples
(Eq. 5). This equation is simple and practical for

Overflow
50
GravimetricWater Content (%)

80
Feed Experimental
40
60 Prediction
Underflow

30
40
20
20
10
0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1
0
Grain Size (mm) 0.1 1 10 100
Soil Suction (kPa)
Fig. 10 Grain size analysis of overflow, feed and under-
flow tailings samples Fig. 11 Underflow SWCC laboratory results

123
Geotech Geol Eng (2007) 25:191202 201

Gravimetric Water Content (%)

80 1.E-06
Experimental

Coefficient of permeability (m/s)

70 1.E-07
Prediction Predicted
60 Experimental
1.E-08
50
1.E-09
40
1.E-10
30
20 1.E-11

10 1.E-12
0 1.E-13
0.1 1 10 100
Soil Suction (kPa) 1.E-14
1 10 100 1000
Fig. 12 Overflow SWCC laboratory results Suction (kPa)

Fig. 14 Predicted and measured unsaturated coefficient of

predicting the coefficient of permeability of
coarse-grained soils such as the tailings samples
used in this research program (Fredlund et al.
1994).
(
25k2
kw ksat
where kw denotes the coefficient of permeability
for a given suction w, ksat denotes the saturated
coefficient of permeability, wb is denotes the air-
entry pressure, w denotes the measured suction, k
denotes a fitting parameter
The predicted coefficient of permeability func-
tions for both tailings samples is shown in Fig. 13.
The rapid decrease in the coefficient of perme-
ability of underflow over a relatively small change
in suction agrees with the SWCC behaviour. The
predicted unsaturated coefficient of permeability
permeability values of overflow tailings sample
decreases by approximately six orders of magni-
tude for the coarser underflow sample and by two
) orders of magnitude for the overflow material for a
wb suction range from 0 to 100 kPa. Figure 14 shows
1 forw  wb ; forw[wb
w comparisons between the measured and predicted
coefficient of permeability values for overflow
5
tailings only. The measured values, calculated
using Eq. 1, are approximately one order of
magnitude lower than the predicted values. The
values obtained using the modified permeameter
results showed relatively little scatter. In contrast,
previous researchers have reported significant
scatter in experimental results using the Instanta-
neous Profile Method with their apparatus. For
example, Hamilton et al. 1979, and Meerdink et al.
1996, reported variability of up to one order of
magnitude and two orders of magnitude respec-
tively.

1.E-04 8 Concluding remarks

Coefficient of permeability (m/s).

Underflow
1.E-05 (Brooks &
1.E-06 Corey) A modified permeameter has been designed and
1.E-07 developed to determine the coefficient of per-
1.E-08 meability of unsaturated nickel tailings using
1.E-09 large size samples. The method to calculate the
Overflow
1.E-10 coefficient of permeability is based on the
1.E-11 instantaneous Profile Method. The permeameter
1.E-12 provides values of unsaturated permeability with
1.E-13
remarkably little scatter over low suction range.
1.E-14
1 10 100 1000 Further experimental work is required to extend
Suction (kPa) the results to higher range of suction values. This
Fig. 13 Predicted conductivity curve for underflow and promising apparatus can also be used for simul-
overflow of tailings using Brooks and Corey (1964) model taneous determination of the SWCC.

123
202
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