4.

Soil Permeability and

Seepage

Soil Mechanics
2010 - 2011

Permeability
Is a measure of how easily a fluid (water) can pass through
a porous medium (soil).

Loose Soil Dense Soil

High permeability Low permeability

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Soil Permeability
Applications (examples):
1. Water wells
a. Water production
b. Dewatering
2. Earth dams
a. Estimate quantity of water seeping through the dam
b. Evaluating stability of dam
3. Ground improvement by preloading

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Darcys Law
Water moves through soil with
discharge Q, and velocity v.
Q = A.v
h
v i Q = V/t
v h/L
v = kh/L
Q = Akh/L 1 2
where: Soil A
Q = water discharge (volume/time)
A = area perpendicular to flow direction
v = velocity of flow (length/time) L
i = hydraulic gradient = h/L
h = total head difference Direction of flow
L = length parallel to flow direction
k = coefficient of soil permeability

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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 Coefficient of Permeability k
Also called hydraulic conductivity
k=v/i
Define k: the velocity of water flowing
through a soil medium under a unit hydraulic
gradient
Note:
flow of water through soil is governed by:
1. Head difference (i=h/l)
2. Soil permeability (k)

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Bernoullis Equation
G.S.

hv1=v12/2g
h
Clay
hp1=u1/w hv2=v22/2g
1
ht1 Water Sand hp2=u2/w
2 ht2
flow
z1 z2
Clay

Datum
h t = z + hp + h v
where:
z = position head (elevation head)
hp = pressure head = u/w: u = pore-water pressure
hv = velocity head = v2/2g very small in soil and may
be neglected
Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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 Bernoullis Equation
G.S.

hv1=v12/2g
h
Clay 2/2g
hp1=u1/w hv2=v2
1
ht1 Water Sand hp2=u2/w
2 ht2
flow
z1 z2
Clay

Datum
h t ~ z + hp
hp is determined using piezometer (later)
h = total head difference, if h = 0, no flow.

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Seepage and Discharge Velocities

Discharge velocity (v):
velocity of flow through entire cross-section.
Q = Av
Can be measured.
Seepage velocity (vs):
velocity of flow through voids.
Q = Avvs
Cant be measured, only calculated, how?

Total area L Area of voids

(A) (Av)

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Seepage and Discharge Velocities
Q = Av = Avvs
Therefore: vs = v ( A/AV)
Multiplying both areas (A and Av) by the length of the
medium (L)
vS = v ( AL / AVL ) = v ( VT / VV )
where:
VT = total volume of sample
VV = volume of voids within sample
By Definition, Vv / VT = n, the soil porosity

Thus vS = v/ n

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Factors affecting k
Soil type
ksand > kclay
Void ratio A
kloose sand > kdense sand

Particles orientation
B
kB > kA A
Soil Structure
kflocculated > kdispersed
Type of fluid
Viscosity ,k flocculated dispersed

Temperature
Temperature , Viscosity ,k

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Laboratory determination of k
1. Constant head test
2. Falling head test

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Constant Head Test

Continuous
Head difference water supply
c
constant
Apply Darcys law:
Q = Av
V/t = Akh/L
Overflow:
k = VL/Aht Volume V in
Time t
where
V = volume of water collected
in time = t Direction
h = constant head difference of flow
A = x-sectional area of soil
specimen
L = length of soil specimen

Suitable for coarse-grained soils.

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Falling Head Test
Head is variable
Coefficient of permeability (k) can
be calculated using the following
relationship:
a T
h Ak ho
ln 1 = T
h2 La hf
where: Overflow
h1 = initial head difference at time = 0
h2 = final head difference at time T
a = x-sectional area of standpipe Direction of
A = x-sectional area of soil specimen
flow A

L = length of soil specimen

Suitable for fine-grained soils.

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Falling Head Test

h
Q = A v = A k i = A.k. -------- (1)
L
dh.a
Q at time dt = -------- (2)
dt
h dh.a a T
From 1 and 2: A.k. =
L dt ho
aL dh hf
dt = .
Overflow
Ak h
T h
aL f dh
dt =
Ak ho h
Direction of
0 flow A

T =
aL
Ak
hf
ln h ho [ ]
h o Ak
ln h = La T
f
Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Limitations of permeability lab tests
Non-homogeneity of soil
Anisotropy of soil
Sampling disturbance
Cracks and inclusions

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Field determination of k
Definitions:
Aquifer: a water-bearing layer of soil with considerable
amount of water.
Confined versus unconfined aquifers.

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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 Field determination of k
Definitions:
Piezometer: a small-diameter pipe used to measure the
groundwater head in aquifers.
Piezometers

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Field determination of k
1. Gravity (unconfined) Aquifer:

Initial water table

Aquitard

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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 Field determination of k
1. Gravity (unconfined) Aquifer:

Pumping well

Initial water table

Aquitard

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Field determination of k
1. Gravity (unconfined) Aquifer:
Q
Pumping well

Initial water table

Draw down water table H

Aquitard

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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 Field determination of k
1. Gravity (unconfined) Aquifer:
Piezometer (1)
Q
Pumping well r2
r1
Piezometer (2)
Initial water table

h1 h2

Draw down water table H

h1 h2

Aquitard

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Field determination of k
1. Gravity (unconfined) Aquifer:
Pump water from
well at a constant rate Piezometer (1)
Pumping well Q
(Q) until reach steady r2
state (water level in
Initial water r1 Piezometer (2)
table
observation wells is
constant)
h1 h2
Field measurements:
Q, r1, r2, h1, h2, Draw down water H
table h1 h2
where:
h1 = H h1
h2 = H h2 Aquitard
Calculate k
Q ln(r2 / r1 )
k=
h22 h12
Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Field determination of k
2. Artesian (confined) Aquifer:

Aquitard

Aquitard

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Field determination of k
2. Artesian (confined) Aquifer:
Initial piezometric
surface Pumping well

Aquitard

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Field determination of k
2. Artesian (confined) Aquifer:
Q
Initial piezometric
surface Pumping well

Draw down
piezometric line

H D

Aquitard

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Field determination of k
2. Artesian (confined) Aquifer:
Piezometer (1)
r2
Q r1
Initial piezometric Piezometer (2)
surface Pumping well

h1 h2
Draw down
piezometric line

h1 h2
H D

Aquitard

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Field determination of k
2. Artesian (confined) Aquifer:
Piezometer (1)
Pump water r2
from well at a Initial piezometric Q r1 Piezometer (2)
constant rate (Q) surface Pumping well
until reach
steady state h1 h2

Field
Draw down
measurements: piezometric line h1 h2
Q, r1, r2, h1, h2, H D
where:
h1 = H h1
h2 = H h2 Aquitard
Calculate k
Q ln(r2 / r1 )
k=
2D h2 h1
Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Field determination of k
Overcomes the limitations of laboratory tests.
Much more expensive compared to laboratory
tests.

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Empirical Correlations for k
1. Coarse-grained soils
Hazens (1930):

k (cm / sec) = cD102

where
c = constant ranging from 1 to 2
D10 = effective grain size in mm

Chapuis (2004):
0.7825
e3
k (cm / sec) = 2.4622 D102
(1 + e)
where
e = void ratio
D10 = effective grain size in mm

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Empirical Correlations for k

2. Fine-grained soils
en
k = C
1+ e
where
C and n = constants determined experimentally
e = void ratio

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Empirical Correlations for k
Example: A clayey soil was tested in the lab and the following
values were determined:

Void ratio k (cm/sec)

1.1 0.302 x 10-7
0.9 0.12 x 10-7

Estimate k for void ratio = 0.75

Answer:
(1.1) n
0.302x10 = C
7

en 1 + 1.1
k = C
1 + e (0.9) n
0.120x107 = C
1 + 0.9

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Empirical Correlations for k

Example: A clayey soil was tested in the lab and the following
values were determined:

Void ratio k (cm/sec)

1.1 0.302 x 10-7
0.9 0.12 x 10-7

Estimate k for void ratio = 0.75

Answer:
(1.1) n

0.302x107 +
=
1 1.1
n = 5.098
0.120x107 (0.9) n

1 + 0.9

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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Empirical Correlations for k
Example: A clayey soil was tested in the lab and the following
values were determined:

Void ratio k (cm/sec)

1.1 0.302 x 10-7
0.9 0.12 x 10-7

Estimate k for void ratio = 0.75

Answer:

(1.1)5.098
0.302x107 = C C = 0.390x107
1 + 1.1
(0.75)5.098
k = 0.390x10
7
= 0.051x107 cm / sec
1 + 0.75
Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

Typical Values of k
Soil Type k (cm/sec)

Gravel 100 10-1

Coarse Sand 10-1 10-2

Fine Sand 10-2 10-3

Silty Sand 10-3 10-4

Silt 10-4 10-5

Clay <10-6

Dr. Manal A. Salem Soil Mechanics

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