CIVE 2218: EXPT: Determination of the coefficient of permeability, K

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DETERMINATION OF THE COEFFICIENT OF PERMEABILITY
BY
- THE CONSTANT - HEAD PERMEAMETER
- THE VARIABLE - HEAD PERMEAMETER
1. Introduction
Permeability is the ease with which water fows through a soil or rock
material. This experiment consists of passing a steady fow (constant fow) of water
through two samples of soils.
1
st
case consists of using sand particles (oarse-!rained soil)
"
nd
case consists of clay particles (#ine-!rained soil)
both being disturbed samples of soils. $arcy%s &aw' for which water fow through
soil' is then used for calculating the coe(cient of permeability of the soil ()).
2. Aim Of Experiment
The aim of this experiment is to in*estigate the coe(cient of permeability ()) of the
two samples used.
Darcys Law:
+ , T - ) . . . (/,&)
where:
Q - quantity of water flowing in time T
K - coefficient of permeability for the soil
A - area of x-section through which water flows
L - length of flow path through soil.
H - ifference in manometer heas
3. Apparatus
- Constant head permeameter,
- Variable head permeameter,
- Stopwatch
- Beaker
- Measuring Cylinder
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CIVE 2218: EXPT: Determination of the coefficient of permeability, K
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4. Constant Head Permea!"!t# Test $Coarse %ra!ned
So!"s&
Test is conducted in an apparatus known as a 0constant head permeameter%.
$ownward fow in this case. The hydraulic gradient in the soil sample is determined
by means of pie1ometer tubes inserted at 2 di3erent le*els' denoted a' b and c. The
water le*els in these tubes are at heights ha' hb and hc respecti*ely abo*e datum
le*el' as shown in 4gure 1 below.
#igure 15 The onstant head Permeameter
4.' Pro(ed)re*
- . wire mesh and sponge is placed at the bottom of the cylinder which is then
4lled with sand (oarse-!rained soils) to a height abo*e the outlet 1 as
shown in 4gure 1.
- .nother sponge is placed abo*e the sand' the sides of the cylinder is oiled
and the co*er is tightened to it'
- The air *al*e is loosened.
- The three water outlets on the sides of the cylinder are connected to the 2
manometer tubes.
- . steady fow (obtained by using a constant pressure head) of water is run
from the top of the cylinder'
- .ir bubbles are remo*ed by gently tapping and shaking of the cylinder with
the air *al*e loosened.
- 6hen the le*el in the manometer tubes become steady' the height of water
in each manometer tube is noted.
- . beaker is used to collect water from the bottom tap of the cylinder and the
time taken for it to be 4lled is noted.
- The fow rate can hence be computed by di*iding the *olume of water
collected in the cylinder by the time taken to collect that water.
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onstant /ead
maintained
CIVE 2218: EXPT: Determination of the coefficient of permeability, K
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4.+ Res)"ts , Ca"()"at!ons*
$iameter of soil
sample 78.9 mm
.rea of soil
sample' .
:.::;82
<8 m
"
collected water Q = V/t
=
(m
2
)
t
(s) - $m
.
/s&
test
1
:.9>
2
;".
8 0.0'.'1
test
"
:.9;
9
2>.
: 0.0'1'4
test
2
:.92
:
21.
9 0.0'23.
test
1
(m)
/
(m)
&
(m) 4
ha
:.2
; H = ha-hb
-
:.:"
2
:.:7
9 0.+0505
hb
:.2
" H = hb-hc
-
:.:1
1
:.:"
9 0.'44.+
hc
:.2
1 H = ha-hc
-
:.:2
;
:.1:
: 0.'3255
test
2
(m)
/
(m)
&
(m) 4
ha
:.;
8 H = ha-hb
-
:.:"
7
:.:7
9 0.'5240
hb
:.;
> H = hb-hc
-
:.:1
1
:.:"
9 0.'44.+
hc
:.;
9 H = ha-hc
-
:.:2
8
:.1:
: 0.'25''
test
3
(m)
/
(m)
&
(m) 4
ha
:.>
1 H = ha-hb
-
:.:"
7
:.:7
9 0.'5240
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CIVE 2218: EXPT: Determination of the coefficient of permeability, K
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hb
:.9
< H = hb-hc
-
:.:1
9
:.:"
9 0.'0134
hc
:.9
7 H = ha-hc
-
:.:;
"
:.1:
: 0.'1'+0
Average Coefcient of Permeability,
K =
0.'2+'2
m/s
Darcy's
Law:
+,t - ). i. .
? i -
/,& @

+,t - )...
(/,&)
4 6 $-/t&7$'/A&7$L/H&
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CIVE 2218: EXPT: Determination of the coefficient of permeability, K
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9. Var!a"e - Head Permea!"!t# Test $F!ne %ra!ned So!"s&
#alling head permeability test is more suitable for 4ne grained soils. .
standpipe is 4tted o*er a permeameter and water allowed to pass through
the sample' as shown in 4gure " below. Abser*ations taken after a steady
state of fow is reached.
#igure "5 The =ariable head Permeameter
1.' Pro(ed)re*
- . *ariable head permeameter is connected to a cylinder containing 4ne-
grained soil and the cylinder is placed in a container full of water'
- The air *al*e is regularly loosened to release trapped air in the soil'
- The drop in the water le*el in the manometer is recorded at regular inter*als
of time (9 min).
- 6hen a steady rate of fow is reached' consecuti*e readings are taken. The
time for which the water le*el drop from a height /1 to /" and /" to /2
should be the same for steady fow.
( /1,/" - /",/2 )

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CIVE 2218: EXPT: Determination of the coefficient of permeability, K
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1.+ Res)"ts , Ca"()"at!ons*
$iameter of soil sample

1:9 mm
.rea of soil sample' . :.::8>9<: m
"
$iameter of standpipe

> mm
.rea of standpipe' a :.::::"82 m
"
&ength of soil specimen' & :.11> m
Time Bnter*al' t 2:: s
reading + 3!""
Time,m
in
Ceading,
mm
orrected
Ceading,mm
/a,/b
: <<8 12>8
9 <<2 12>2

1.::2>7
1: <8< 129<

1.::"<;
19 <8; 129;

1.::2><
": <8: 129:

1.::"<>
"9 <77 12;7

1.::""2
2: <72 12;2

1.::"<8
29 <>< 122<

1.::"<<
;: <>> 122>

1.::""9
;9 <>" 122"

1.::2::
9: <9< 12"<

1.::"">
99 <99 12"9

1.::2:"
>: <9: 12":

1.::27<
>9 <;< 121<

1.:::7>
7: <;9 (/1) 1219

1.::2:;
79 <;" (/") 121"

1.::""<
#H1/H
2$
? /1,/" -
/",/2 @
8: <2< (/2) 12:<
#H2/H
3$
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CIVE 2218: EXPT: Determination of the coefficient of permeability, K
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1.::""<
89 <2> 12:>

1.::"2:
Average Coefcient of Permeability ,
K
2.!"#$!%
m&s
$arcyDs
&aw5
+,dt - )...(/,&)
dt - -(a.&),(..))E(d/),/

integrating b,w limits a to t /1 to /"
-t - -(a.&),(..))Elog1:(/1,/")
4 6 $a/A&7$L/t&7+..7"o8'0$H'/H+&
2. PRECA9TIONS
- Bt was ensured that the fow was steady before readings were taken.
- Bt should ensure that there is no segregation from the sample of coarse sand.
- The sample should be fully saturated before starting the practical test.
- Fo leaks should occur in both apparatus since systematic errors will be
induced in the calculations. The top of the cylinder has been oiled for this
purpose.
- The air *al*e is regularly loosened to remo*ed air bubbles
5. CONCL9SIONS
Bn this experiment the coe(cient of permeability' )
- oarse sand particles- 0.'2+'2 m,s
- #ine clay particles - 2.!" ' (!
$%
m,s.
Therefore' it can be concluded that the sample of sand (coarse) is more permeable
than that of clay (4ne). The *alue of ) will *ary for each sampling point and the
method of sampling will also a3ect the result.
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CIVE 2218: EXPT: Determination of the coefficient of permeability, K
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