Slide 1: Title Slide observation wells show the pressure

head rather than the direct water table

Explanation:
level, and this pressure head difference
Introduce the topic of Permeability Test in the
informs the aquifer's response to
Field by Pumping from Wells by briefly
pumping.
describing its purpose in geotechnical
engineering. Mention that this test helps Slide 4: Unconfined Aquifer Permeability
measure soil or rock permeability directly in the Test
field rather than in a lab, which provides results
Explanation:
that are more representative of real-world
For an unconfined aquifer, outline the setup
conditions.
and process as follows:
Slide 2: Introduction to Field Permeability
• Test Setup: A primary well with a
Tests
perforated casing allows water to flow
Explanation: into the well, with multiple observation
Explain that a permeability test by pumping in wells positioned around it at various
wells involves extracting water from a primary radial distances. Water is pumped at a
well and observing how the water level (or steady rate from the primary well.
"drawdown") in nearby observation wells
• Observations: The drawdown (drop in
changes in response. Key points include:
water levels) in observation wells is
• Purpose: It allows us to assess the monitored at different distances from the
permeability of subsurface materials in pumping well. This is continued until a
situ. steady-state flow condition is achieved,
meaning the water levels stabilize.
• Practical Advantage: It avoids the need
to collect and transport soil samples, This setup results in a radial flow towards the
which can be challenging and may not well, and the change in water levels (or
always retain in-situ properties in lab drawdown) in the observation wells is used to
conditions. calculate the hydraulic conductivity.
Slide 3: Test Types – Unconfined vs. Slide 5: Unconfined Aquifer Formula
Confined Aquifers
Explanation:
Explanation: Explain the formula for hydraulic conductivity k
This slide distinguishes between the two main in an unconfined aquifer:
types of aquifers tested in field permeability 𝑟1
tests: 𝑞∙𝑙𝑛( )
𝑟2
k=
𝜋(ℎ1 −ℎ22 )
2
• Unconfined Aquifer: Water is freely
accessible from the ground surface to the • Variables:
water table. An unconfined aquifer allows
for the radial flow of water towards the o q: The constant discharge rate (or
pumping well, and the water level, or flow rate).
"head," can be directly observed and o 𝑟1 and 𝑟2 : Distances from the
measured. primary well to observation wells.
• Confined Aquifer: Bounded by • ℎ1 and ℎ2 : Water levels in the observation
impermeable layers above and below, wells at 𝑟1 and 𝑟2
meaning water is under pressure. In
confined aquifers, water levels in
 • Explanation: The drawdown difference, steady state is achieved, where the
ℎ12 − ℎ22 , reflects how the water level pressure head difference remains
changes around the well, indicating the constant, indicating stable flow.
permeability of the unconfined soil or
Use an illustration showing the confined aquifer
rock layer.
with impermeable layers and water flow to clarify
Key Points: the setup.
• Drawdown Term: In unconfined Slide 7: Confined Aquifer Formula
aquifers, the drawdown difference is
Explanation:
represented as ℎ12 − ℎ22 , which reflects
Introduce the hydraulic conductivity formula k
the parabolic shape of the water table as
for a confined aquifer:
it draws down towards the well. This
squared term arises due to the changing 𝑟1
𝑞∙𝑙𝑛(𝑟2)
saturated thickness of the aquifer as k=
2𝜋𝐻(ℎ1 −ℎ2 )
water is pumped out.
Variables:
• No Thickness Constraint: There’s no
specific thickness term in this formula • q: Pumping rate.
because unconfined aquifers have a free
water table, with water moving freely • H: Thickness of the confined aquifer.
down to the saturated zone. • ℎ1 and ℎ2 : Piezometric (pressure) heads
• unconfined aquifer (an aquifer open to at distances 𝑟1 and 𝑟2 from the primary
the atmosphere where water levels can well.
fluctuate freely), Key Points:
Consider providing a sample calculation using • Drawdown Term: Here, the drawdown is
hypothetical values to help the class understand represented as ℎ1 -ℎ2 , a linear difference
how to apply the formula. because the confined nature of the
Slide 6: Confined Aquifer Permeability Test aquifer keeps the flow behavior more
uniform, with water levels primarily
Explanation: changing due to pressure differences.
For a confined aquifer, the test setup and
observations differ due to the presence of • Thickness Constraint: The term H, the
impermeable layers above and below the thickness of the aquifer, is critical as it
aquifer. Explain: restricts the vertical extent of flow. The
confined aquifer has limited vertical
• Test Setup: A primary well with movement, so the permeability
perforated casing extends through the calculation must account for this
entire thickness of the confined aquifer. constraint.
The aquifer is under pressure, allowing
water to rise above the confining layer in Explanation: The thickness H constrains the
the observation wells, which record the flow to within a certain depth, and the drawdown
pressure head instead of the direct water difference ℎ1 -ℎ2 provides information on the
table level. confined pressure and permeability.
Aspect Unconfined Confined
• Observations: The difference in Drawdown ℎ12 − ℎ22 , (reflects changing ℎ1 -ℎ2 , (linear change
pressure head in observation wells at Term saturated thickness) in pressure head)
Thickness Not included, as flow is Includes the aquifer
different distances from the pumping well Factor unrestricted vertically thickness, restricting
vertical flow
is measured. This test continues until a