UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA

BOGOT
SOIL MECHANICS
FLOW IN POROUS MEDIA
JULIO ESTEBAN COLMENARES MONTAEZ , PhD
TITULAR PROFFESOR
BOGOT D.C
2015 - II

REVIEW
In the last session stress physical concepts were approached, also effective stress and interstitial pressure
concepts were introduced
Effective stress of a saturated soil is defined as:
=

Underground Water can be found in three states: Hygroscopic, capillary and free or gravity:
=

In the saturated zone, where is located gravity water, the interstitial pressure is equal hydrostatic pressure:
=

Only if water is static condition, otherwise interstitial pressure decrease or increase in function of flow
direction

CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DARCYS LAW

3. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
4. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN MULTILAYER MEDIA
5. EFFECTIVE STRESSES DUE TO FLOW
6. TEST TO DETERMINE HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

1. INTRODUCTION
In this session the basic concepts about Unidimensional flow are studied, the concepts
about infiltration force and hydraulic conductivity are defined and also the variation of
effective stresses due to flow is evaluated.
In the professional job is necessary to know the flow principals in porous media to
understand and to solve problematic related to:
I.

Caudal of infiltration (Leak in ground dam, diggings and tunnels)

II.

Variation of fluid volume (Consolidation Abatement of water table)

III. Stability of structures (Embankments - slopes)

1. INTRODUCTION
Between the particles which form the soil, due to its geometric features, there are an
amount of holes which are releases. Even in the soils of the fine fraction and its laminar
particles, pores are connected to form a ductwork where fluids can move.

Micrograph of a sample of
Sandstone in which the disposition
of rocks pores is shown.

Taken from Lambe (1991)

Taken from http://coleccion.educ.ar/coleccion/CD23/contenidos/familia/index3.html#img17

1. INTRODUCTION
Due to complicated path across porous media, friction between fluids and rough surface of
particles lets the main energy loss in the flow.
Basic theory about soil mechanics study that phenomenon with the following assumptions:
I.

The flow can be considerate incompressible.

II.

The flow across soil is laminar

III. Darcys Law is valid for all kind of soil

1. INTRODUCTION
When considering a permanent and incompressible flow, Bernoullis principle says the total energy per
unit weight that has the flow is given by:

1. INTRODUCTION
Using the Bernoullis equation in the soil topic, the speed load term can be despised due to
the magnitude of speeds which are following.
Using this equation in a soil element, the following is obtained:

+
+
= +
+
+

= ( ) +

Hydraulic Gradient i is defined as total energy loss per unit length:

2. DARCYS LAW
Henry Darcy did a study about water flow across a sand bed in 1850.
Varying the pressure and length of bed, Darcy found that caudal which passes through the soil is
proportional to hydraulic gradient applied. In math terms:

=
=

=
=

The proportionality constant of Darcys Law

is known as:

Hydraulic Conductivity of soil

2. DARCYS LAW
Discharge Speed is the speed of moving of a raindrop from Position 1 to Position 2. (fig 1).
Infiltration Speed is the average flow speed through soil, it means, the raindrop speed from
Position 3 to Position 4. (fig 1).
A

Infiltration speed takes into account

effective area where the fluid moves, it
means, relates flow speed with
materials porosity.
L

Using the continuity equation:

=
=

3. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
Hydraulic Conductivity or permeability coefficient k describes the ease of a fluid to move in a porous media
and its units are
Hydraulic conductivity of soil depends on following factors
I.
II.
III.
IV.

Fluid viscosity
Void ratio and its distribution in the soil mass
Rugosity of mineral particles
Degree of saturation

Is accepted to say that hydraulic conductivity has two components:

Kinematic Viscosity of fluid.

Absolute Permeability depends on pores

structure and its geometric. .

3. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
Hydraulic conductivity can be expressed as a function of
soil moisture conditions.
Is important to say that hydraulic conductivity decreases
quickly with decrease of degree saturation of soil. The
following are some reasons:
1.

In the drying, liquid phase is not continuous.

2.

Decrease the effective area such that exist flow.

Taken from: Analysis of underground water contamination by basic sanitation

systems
http://www.bvsde.ops-oms.org/eswww/fulltext/repind46/analisis/analisis.html

4. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN AN ANISOTROPIC MEDIA

Due to formation of soils, variation of its properties can be important in small distances
(depth and area).
Model the soil as an unique layer with equivalent parameters can be advantageous, it means,
to suppose that the effects in a real soil can be represented by a fictitious soil with average
properties.
In the case of moving of fluid in porous media, is possible to determinate:

I.

Equivalent hydraulic conductivity for horizontal flow

II.

Equivalent hydraulic conductivity for vertical flow

4. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN AN ANISOTROPIC MEDIA

4.1 HORIZONTAL FLOW
Using the continuity equation:

( )() =

=1

( ) ()
=1

In this conditions the hydraulic condition is

the same in all layers:

1
( ) =

( )
=1

4. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN AN ANISOTROPIC MEDIA

4.1 VERTICAL FLOW

The condition of problem is:

=1

From Darcys equation:

From continuity equation:

= = +1
= = +1

( ) =

=1( )

5. EFFECTIVE STRESSES DUE TO FLOW

Method: Unit weight and peripheral forces of water Flow up

' w z t L w h z L
' t L w h L

5. EFFECTIVE STRESSES DUE TO FLOW

Method: Unit weight submerged and infiltration forces Flow up

' w z t L w h z L
' b L w h
' b L w i L

5. 1 EFFECTIVE STRESSES DUE TO FLOW UP

flow

Hydraulic gradient allow to determine the energy loss in any point

of sample. Using the energy equation between the points A and B:

= ( ) +

=+

hw
A

L
Reference plane: Plane 1

z
X
soil

Using the Bernoullis equation between point A and a point X in

the soil mass, the pressure in that point is given by:
=

Reference plane: Plane 2

5. 1 EFFECTIVE STRESSES DUE TO FLOW DOWN

flow

Effective stress in any point in the soil mass:

=

Supposing that the hydrostatic pressures law can be applied in

the model, is possible demonstrate that:
=

hw

= ( + )

= ( )

z
X
soil
B

5. 2 EFFECTIVE STRESSES DUE TO FLOW UP

flow

Hydraulic gradient allow to determine the energy loss in any point

of sample. Using the energy equation between the points A and B:

= (Z Z ) +

=

hw

Reference plane: Plane 1

z
2
X

Using the Bernoullis equation between point B and a point X in

the soil mass, the pressure in that point is given by:
=

Reference plane: Plane 2

1
A

5. 2 EFFECTIVE STRESSES DUE TO FLOW UP

flow

Effective stress in any point in the soil mass:

=
=

Supposing that the hydrostatic pressures law can be applied in

the model, is possible demonstrate that:
= ( + + )

hw
B

z
X

=
A

= ( + )

5. 3 COMPARISON BETWEEN FLOW CONDITIONS

Depth (m)

Vertical effective stress 'z ( kPa)

Hidrosttica

F.Descendente

F.Ascendente

5. 4 INFILTRATION FORCE
When water flows through soil, a friction force between soil particles and fluid particles
is produced. The magnitude of that force is related with fluid viscosity.

The infiltration force always acts in flow direction and is equal to:
j

Fuerza _ Infiltracion hA w

i w
Volumen _ del _ suelo
LA

When the infiltration force is equal to weight of soil mass in flow up, the condition of
siphoning or boiling is presented. In that condition, the matrix of soil dont support load
allowing the mineral particles move in the flow direction.

5. 4 INFILTRATION FORCE
In order with the last description, the siphoning condition is presented when effective
stress is null.
= ( + )
0 = ( + )

=
+

Is necessary to assess this condition in the projects which involve flow in soils and to
verify that the gradient found is the greatest critical gradient of soil. A recommendation
for this is:

=
23

6. MEASUREMENT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

TEST OF CONSTANT HEAD
In the figure is presented a typical form of test of
hydraulic conductivity with constant head. In this
draw, water supply is done such that H always is
constant.
After of determine a constant rate of flow, water is
collected in a graduated cylinder for a time
determined.

6. MEASUREMENT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

TEST OF VARIABLE HEAD
In the test, water of burette flows through soil.
The initial difference of head, Ho in the time
t=to=0 is registered and the flow through soil
sample is allowed such that final difference of
head in the time t is H.

In the Burette:
Through soil:

Q s

dH
dt

H
Q k
L

Is known that the most soils IN SITU are anisotropic,

In that order, the horizontal hydraulic conductivity
and vertical hydraulic conductivity are different.

6. MEASUREMENT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

PUMPING TEST
The test involves pumping water from a well at a
constant rate (under steady state) recording the
decrease in groundwater level.

Analysis of field test is related to the type of aquifer

(the permeable layer of soil)
1.
2.

Unconfined Aquifer
Confined Aquifer

6. MEASUREMENT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

PUMPING TEST
The process of exploitation of an aquifer or a unconfined
medium is a bidimentional flow problem, but is preferred
in one direction.
For simplicity, assume that the flow is completely
horizontal and evenly distributed in the medium,
obviating the vertical component.
This condition is known as the supposition of Dupuit
Forchheimer.

6. MEASUREMENT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

PUMPING TEST

For simplicity the mathematical treatment, is

possible to use cylindrical coordinates to
analyze the problem:
Assuming that the medium is homogeneous,
we can say that abatement of water table is
the same in all directions.

It means that the abatement of water table

depend only of radius:

=0

= ()

6. MEASUREMENT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

PUMPING TEST

From the above, is possible say that:

=
2 1

Using Darcys law:

Q =

Q = (2)

= (2)

Q
(2 2 1 2 )

2
1

ln

Q
=

2
=
1

(2)
1

6. MEASUREMENT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

PUMPING TEST
Pozos de
observacin

Pozo

The analysis of problem is done in the same

way that the last problem, there are two
possible conditions of flow in a confined
aquifer

Superficie
piezmetrica
Impermeable

In the case h1>D for any time t:

h2

h1

Flujo radial

Q =
Acufero

ro

Impermeable

Si h1>D

= (2)

r1
r2

Ri

Q = (2)
2
1

Q
=

(2)
1

Q
2
ln
(2)(2 1 )
1

REVIEW
1.

Flow through soil also can be considered as laminar flow due to its small speed, in that
order v=k*i in which is a expression of Darcys law.

2.

Hydraulic conductivity or permeability coefficient k describes the ease of a fluid to move in

a porous media and is obtained in laboratory test. [L/T]

3.

Hydraulic gradient i is the total energy loss h per unit length l l : i=h/l

4.

Discharge speed v is the speed of moving of water.

5.

Infiltration speed vs is the average speed of flow through soil and is expressed as vs =v/n

REVIEW
6.

There are three important heads in flow through porous media: Head of position, head of
pressure and the total head

7.

The principal methods to analyze the stresses in flow condition are: total and peripheral
forces method and Infiltration forces and weight submerged method

8.

Infiltration forces per unit volume are expressed as i*w and in isotropic soils it acts in
flow direction.

9.

Siphoning or boiling is a state in which a soil without cohesion losses its strength due to
flow . It overrides the effective stress.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Holtz, R. (1981). Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering. (2dn Edition)
Craig, R. F. (1997) Soil Mechanics. 6th Edition. Chapman & Hall.
Lambe, T. W., Whitman, R. V. (1979). Soil Mechanics. John Wiley & Sons.
James Cook University, Australia. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Group.
http://eng1.jcu.edu.au/research/compgeo/geores.html

University of Cantabria, Spain. Virtual course of Soil Mechanics.

National Technological University Regional Faculty Santa Fe - Course: Foundations Filtration
- Verification of safety to siphoning