UNIVERSITY OF CEBU (UC)

CIVIL ENGINEERING
CE ENCHANCEMENT COURSE 2
MODULE SET

PERMEABILITY

Permeability = the property of soil which permit ℎ

i=
flow of water or other liquids through or it is the L
case with which water can flow through it. h = headloss

Coefficient of Permeability = the constant of L = length of flow over which the loss of head
permeability a factor that indicates if the volume occur.
of flow is to be great or small, relatives to the ease
or difficulty with which water moves through the
Ki
Scour velocity or seepage velocity =
n
soil.
Absolute Permeability:
Darcys Formula:
Ɣw
Discharge Velocity = quantity of water flowing in K= K
ɳ
unit time through a unit gross cross sectional area
of soil at right angles to the direction of flow Where:

V=Ki K = coefficient of permeability

Where: K = absolute permeability

K = hydraulic conductivity or coefficient of ɳ = viscosity of water

permeability Ɣ w = unit weight of water
i = hydraulic gradient
Laboratory Determination of Hydraulic 1. Hydraulic conductivity of sand with
Conductivity small uniformly coefficient
A) For uniform sand in a loose state
A. Constant head test
K = C ( D 10)^2 (cm/sec)
QL
K=
A ℎt Where:
Where: K = hydraulic conductivity
K = hydraulic conductivity D10 = effective size ( in cm)
Q = volume of water collected C = a constant w/c varies from
A = cross sectional area of soil specimen 100 to 150 1/cm.s
L = length of specimen
T = duration water collection
B. Falling head test B) For dense or compacted sands
aL ℎ1 K = 0.35 ( D 15)^2
K= ln ( )
At ℎ2 Where D 15 is in cm.
Where: 2. Hydraulic conductivity of sand
a= cross sectional area of standpipe
haing a void ratio of e 1 and
A = cross sectional area of soil specimen
hydraulic when the void ratio is e z .
ℎ1= the initial head difference at the time 3
e1
t=0
K 1 1+e 1
ℎ2 = the final head difference at time t. =
K2 e32
L = length of soil sample 1+e 2

3. Hydraulic conductivity for two

given void ratio and hydraulic Equivalent Hydraulic Conductivity
conductivity in Stratified Soil
n A) Equivalent horizontal hydraulic
e
K = C( )
1+ e conductivity
n
e1 Horizontal Flow in Stratified
K 1 1+e 1 Soil
=
K2 e2n
1+e 2
 H 2+¿ K
K ℎ(eq) = K 1 H 1+ K 2 3 H3
¿
H

B) Equivalent vertical hydraulic conductivity

Vertical Flow in Stratified Soil

H
K ℎ(eq) = H 1 H 2 H 3
+ +
K1 K2 K3

Equivalent Vertical Hydraulic Conductivity ℎ= ℎ1 +ℎ 2+¿ℎ ¿

3

H ℎ = total head loss in all layers

( )( )
K v (eq) = H 1
Kv 1
+
H2
K v2
+(
H3
Kv 3
)

PROBLEM 1:
H = H 1 + H 2+¿ H 3 ¿

ℎ1 + H 1+ ¿i ¿ A grain-size analysis for a uniform sand in a loose

1
state indicate that the soil particle diameter
ℎ2 + H 2 +¿i ¿
2 corresponding to 10% passing on the grain-size
distribution curve is 0.18 mm. Estimate the
ℎ3 + H 3 +¿i ¿
3
coefficient of permeability. Assume c 1 = 125
ℎ 1/cm.s
i=
H
SOLUTION:
 2
K = c 1 (D 10 ) (for uniform sand in a loose state) c 1 = 125

K = 125 (0.018)2 = 0.0405 cm/s

PROBLEM 2: SOLUTION:
The results of a constant head permeability test for 392
Q= = 392 cu.cm. = 392,000 cu.mm
a fine sand and> sample having a diameter of 150 1
mm and a length of 150 mm are as follows:
h = 400 mm
Constant head difference = 40 cm. QL
K=
Time of collection of water = 83 sec. A ℎt
Weight of water collected = 392 g. 392000(50)
K= π = 0.100 mm/sec.
Find the hydraulic conductivity for the soil. ¿¿
4

PROBLEM 3: Ƞ1
=1.164
Ƞ2
For a falling or variable head permeability test,
the following are given: Find the absolute permeability of the soil at 20℃ .
Length of soil specimen = 12 cm.

Cross sectional area of stand pipe: A = 0.018 cm2 SOLUTION:

D
At 14 ° C:
iameter of soil specimen = 7.5 cm.
aL ℎ
Time of collection of water: t = 65 sec.
K 1 = 2.303 log 10 1
At ℎ2
Head difference at time t = 0; h1 = 70 cm.
( 0.018 ) (12)
70
Head difference at time t = 65 sec; ℎ2 = 40 cm. K 1 = 2.303 π log 10 ( )
¿¿ 40
4
Temperature of water: 14 ° C
K 1 =4.21 x10− 5 cm/sec
Use:
At 20℃ :
aL ℎ
K = 2.303 log 10 1
At ℎ2 Ƞ1
K 20 = K t =
Ƞ2
Ƞ1
K 20℃ = K t =
Ƞ2 K 20 = 4.21x10− 5(1.164)

K 20 = 4.9x10− 5 cm/sec.
PROBLEM 4: Viscosity of water at 20℃ = 1.005 x 10− 3 N.s/m 2
The computed permeability o the soil is 1.75 x SOLUTION:
−4
10 m.sec. Determine the absolute permeability
of the soil if the test was conducted at a KȠ 1.75 x 10− 4 (1.005 ) x 10−3
K|¿|¿ = = = 1.787
temperature of 20℃ . Ɣw 9789
x 10− 11 m/sec.
Unit weight of water at 20℃ = 9789 N/m 3

SOLUTION:
PROBLEM 5: Coefficient of permeability:
The perimeter in a falling head permeability test aL ℎ1
set up involves a cylindrical soil sample 50 mm in K= ln ( )
At ℎ2
diameter and a height 200 mm. The hydraulic
head in the 10 mm diameter standpipe through
π
which test water passed dropped from 900 to 600 a= (0.1 ¿ ¿2
4
mm in one minute of observation. In that duration,
the water collected in the graduated flask was a= 0.00785 cm2
recorded at 1.5 liters. Evaluate the coefficient of
permeability of the soil sample in cm/sec. π
A= (0.5 ¿ ¿2 = 0.196 cm2
4
0.00785(20) 90
K= ln ( ¿ = 0.00541 cm/sec.
0.196(60) 20

PROBLEM 6: QL
K=
A ℎt
For a constant head permeability test in sand,
the following are given:
580 (350)
K= = 0.0215 cm/s
Length of specimen = 350 125 ( 420 ) (3)(60)
rea of specimen = 125 cm² Seepage velocity
Head difference = 420 mm 580
Q= = 3.22
3(60)
Water collected in 3 min. = 580 cm³
Q = AV
. Void ratio of sand = 0.60
3.22 =125 V
Compute the seepage velocity.
V = 0.0258

SOLUTION:
 V e 0.60
Vs = n= = = 0.375 V s =
n 1+ e 1+ 0.60
0.0258
= 0.0688 cm/sec
0.375

PROBLEM 7:

A falling-head permeability test is performed Find the coefficient of permeability in

on a silty soil. cm/min.
Sample length = 8 cm. SOLUTION:
Cross sectional area of sample = 10 cm² aL ℎ1
K= ln ( )
At ℎ2
Area of standpipe = 1.5 cm²
100
Height of of water in standpipe at start of test 1.5 ( 8 ) ln ⁡( )
K= 90 = 0.0021 cm/min
period = 100 cm.
10 (60)
Height of of water in standpipe at end of test
period = 90 cm.
Time for change from 100 cm to 90 cm is 60
min.

PERMEABILITY TEST BY PUMPING FROM WELLS

A. Well in an unconfined permeable

layer underlain by an impermeable
stratum.
 Q = rate of flow
r 1 = the farthest distance from the center of
test well
r 2 = the nearest distance of observation well
from the test well
z 1 = draw down of the farthest observation
well
z 2 = draw down of the nearest observation
well
r1 ℎ1= H - z 1
Q ln ( )
K= r2
2 ℎ2 = H - z 2
π (h1 − h2 ) 2

B. Well in an confined permeable

layer underlain by an impermeable Q = rate of flow
stratum.
r 1 = the farthest distance from the center of
test well
r 2= the nearest distance of observation well
from the test well
z 1 = draw down of the farthest observation
well
z 2 = draw down of the nearest observation
well
ℎ1 = H - z 1

ℎ2 = H - z 2
r1
Q ln( ) t = thickness of a confined aquifier
K= r2
2 π t (h1 − h2 )
Transmissivity of Aquifer in a Pumping Test
with an Unconfined Permeable Layer
Transmissivity of Aquifer in a Pumping Test
Underlain by an Impermeable Stratum
with an Confined Aquifer having a thickness
r1 “t” underlain by an Impermeable Stratum
Q ln( )
A) T = r2
B) T = Kt thickness of acquifer
2 π (z 1 − z 2)

PROBLEM 8: a. Rate of flow in m³/day

A 300 mm diameter test well penetrates 27 m. Q = 69 liter/sec

below the static water table. After 24 hours of Q = 0.069(3600)(24) = 5961.6 m³/day
pumping at 69 liters/sec. The water level in an
observation well at a distance of 95 m. from b. Coeff. Of Permeability:
the test well = 26.5 m, ℎ1=27-0.5 = 26.5 m
is lowered 0.5 m. and the other observation ℎ1 = 27-11 = 25.9 m
well at a distance of 35 m. from the test well,
the drawdown is 1.1 m. r1
Q ln( )
K= r2
a. What is the rate of flow in m3/day. 2
π (h1 − h2 )2

b. Compute the coefficient of permeability of

the aquifer in m/day. 95
5961.6 ln( )
K= 35 = 60.27 m/day
c. Compute the transmisibility of the aquifer 2
π (26.5) ¿ ¿
in m2/day.

c. Transmissibility:
r1
Q ln( )
T= r2
2 π (z 1 − z 2)
95
5961.6 ln()
T= 35 = 1579 ㎡/day
SOLUTION: 2 π (1.1− 0.5)
PROBLEM 9: SOLUTION:

A pumping out lest was carried out in the field ℎ1=15.8-1.27 = 14.53

in order to determine the average coefficient ℎ2 = 15.8-1.76 = 14.04

of permeability of an 18 m thick sand layer. r1
Q ln( )
The ground water table was located at a depth K= r2
2
of 2.2m below the ground level. A steady state π (h1 − h2 )
2

was reached when the discharge from the well 21.5

Q = (3600)(24) = 1857.6
1000
was 2.54 m, while the drawdown in two
m³/day
observation wells situated at 8 m and 20 m
20
from the test well was found to be 1.76 m 1857.6 ln( )
K= 8 = 38.70 m³/day
2
and1.27m respectively. Determine the radius π (14.53) ¿ ¿
of influence of the test well. 38.70
K= = 4.48x10− 4 m/s
3600(24)
R = 3000 S√ K (radius of influence)
R = 3000(2.54)√ 4.48 x 10 −4 = 161.28 m
PROBLEM 10:
A pumping well of 20 cm. diameter penetrates
into a confined aquifer of 25 m in thickness.
A steady discharge of 26.5 liters/sec is
obtained from the well under a drawdown of
3.2 m. Assuming a radius of influence of
300m.,find out the coefficient of permeability
of the soil in m/day. R
Q ln ()
K= rw
2 π t (D− h)
r w = radius of well
r w = 0.10 m.
26.5
Q= (3600)(24) = 2289.6
1000
m³/day
D-h = 3.2 m.
300
2289.6 ln( )
SOLUTION: K= 0.10 = 36.47 m/day
2 π (25)(3.2)

PROBLEM 11: SOLUTION:

R = 3000 S√ K = 3000(S)√ 0.0001 = 150 m
In a pumping out test, the drawdown is 5 m. If
the coefficient" permeability is 10-4 m/sec,
compute the radius of influence.