INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

FOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

‫و‬ ‫ا‬ ‫او م‬
‫ا‬ ‫ا‬

CIVIL ENGINEERING AND

Lecture ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT
303322 - Soil Mechanics
6
2 Soil Permeability

Dr. Abdulmannan
Orabi
 References

Das, B., M. (2014), “ Principles of

geotechnical Engineering ” Eighth
Edition, CENGAGE Learning,
ISBN-13: 978-0-495-41130-7.
Knappett, J. A. and Craig R. F. (2012), “
Craig’s Soil Mechanics” Eighth Edition,
Spon Press, ISBN:
978- 0-415-56125-9.

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 2

 Introduction

In soil mechanics and foundation,

engineering, you must know how
much water is flowing through a
soil in unit time. This knowledge is
required to design earth dams,
determine the quantity of seepage
under hydraulic structures, and
dewater before and during the
construction of foundations.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 3
 Soil Permeability
Permeability is defined as a capacity
of soil to allow water passes through
it i.e. quantity of flowing for a unit of
soil surface under a pressure of 1
unit hydraulic gradient.

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 4

 Soil Permeability
 Soils are permeable due to the
existence of interconnected voids
through which water flow from
points of high energy to points
of low energy.

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 Soil Permeability

• A soil is highly pervious when

water can flow through it easily.
(Gravels)
• In an impervious soil, the
permeability is very low and water
cannot easily flow through it. (Clays)
• Rocks are impermeable
• The study of the flow of water
through permeable soil media is
important
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi in soil mechanics.
IUST 6
 Importance of Permeability

The following applications illustrate the

importance of permeability in
geotechnical design:
 Permeability influences the rate of
settlement of a
saturated soil under load.
 The design of earth dams is very much
based upon the permeability of the
soils used.
 The stability of slopes and retaining
structures can be greatly affected by the
permeability
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi of the soilsIUST
involved. 7

 Filters made of soils are designed

Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
The following factors affect the
permeability of soils
1) Particle size
2) Void ratio of soil.
3) Properties of pore fluid.
4) Shape of particles.
5) Structure of soil mass.

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 8

Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
The following factors affect the
permeability of soils
6) Degree of saturation.
7) Absorbed water.
8)Entrapped air and organic
impurities in water.
9) Temperature.
10)Stratification ofsoil

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 9

Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
1.Particle size
The Permeability varies
approximately as the square of
grain size. It depends on
the effective diameter of
the grain size (D10)
2.Void ratio
Increase in the void ratio
increases the area available
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 10
for flow hence permeability
Factors Affecting Permeability of Soils

3. Properties of pore fluid.

Pore fluids are fluids that occupy
pore spaces in a soil or rock.
Permeability is directly
proportional to the unit weight
of pore fluid and inversely
proportional to viscosity of
pore fluid.

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 11

Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
4. Shape of particles
Permeability is inversely
proportional to specific surface
e.g. as angular soil have more
specific surface area compared to
the round soil therefore, the soil
with angular particles is less
permeable than soil of rounded
particles.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 12
Factors Affecting Permeability of
5. Structure of
Soils
soil mass
For same void ratio the
permeability is more for
flocculent structure as
compared to the dispended
structure

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 13

Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
6. Degree of saturation
The permeability of partially
saturated soil is less than that of
fully saturated soil.

Permeabi
lity

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 14

Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
7. Adsorbed Water
Adsorbed Water means a thin
microscopic film of water
surrounding individual soil
grains. This water is not free to
move and hence reduces the
effective pore space an thus
decreases coefficient of
permeability.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 15
Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
8. Entrapped air and organic
impurities The organic
impurities and entrapped air
obstruct the flow and
coefficient
Air
of permeability is
reduceordue to their presence.
wat
er
pore
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 16
Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
9. Temperature
As the viscosity of the pore
fluid decrease with the
temperature , permeability
increases with temperature , as
unit weight of pore fluid does
not change much with change in
temperature.

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 17

Factors Affecting Permeability of
Soils
10. Stratification of soil
Stratified soils are those soils which
are formed by layer upon layer of
the earth or dust deposited on
each other. If the flow is parallel
to the layers of stratification , the
permeability is max. while the flow
in Perpendicular direction occur
with min. permeability.
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 Water Flow

The water flow is divided

into two categories:
1)Laminar
flow
2)Turbulent
flow

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 Water Flow

Laminar flow indicates that

each water particle follows a
definite path and never
crosses the path of another
particle. ]

Laminar
flow

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 Water Flow

Turbulent flow indicates a

random path of irregular and
twisted movement.
]

Turbulent

flow
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 Hydraulic Gradient

Water below a GWT surface

is usually flowing under a
hydraulic gradient, defined
as the slope of the free
water surface in the direction
of flow.

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 Hydraulic Gradient

The hydraulic gradient is

∆
expressed as
i= (6 -
1)
∆

L
where: A
i = hydraulic B
gradient
∆
L h==distance
the head between
loss
points A and B
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 23
 Darcy’s Law
Henry Darcy (1803-1858), Hydraulic
Engineer. His law is a foundation stone
for several fields of study

Darcy’s Law demonstrated

experimentally that for laminar
flow conditions
in a saturated soil,
the rate of flow or the
discharge per unit time is
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 24

proportional to the hydraulic

 Darcy’s Law
Darcy(1856) stated that the flow of
water through porous media is directly
proportional to the head loss and
inversely proportional to the length of
∆
= be written as:= i
flow path.
(6 -
This may L 2)
where :
k = permeability coefficient or
hydraulic conductivity v = discharge
velocity (average velocity )
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 25
 Darcy’s Law

Discharge velocity (average

velocity ), is the quantity of total
water flowing in unit time,
(q) through a unit gross cross-
sectional area,
(A) of soilqat right angles to the
V=
(6 -
Directi

A
direction of flow.
3)
on of
flow

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 26

Range of Validity of
Darcy’s Low
Darcy’s type of flow is stable in
character as long as the four
basic conditions are always
satisfied:
 The steady state is laminar flow
 Hundred percent saturation
 Flow fulfilling continuity
conditions
 No volume changes occur
during or as a result of flow.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 27
 Seepage Velocity
The discharge velocity based on
the gross cross sectional area of
the soil. However, the actual
velocity of water (that is the
seepage velocity)
specimen
through the void spaces
Flow
=A is
rate, q
greater than v.
L Area of
Area ofvoids soil
=
Av
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 28
Area of
 Seepage Velocity
A relationship between the
discharge velocity and the
seepage velocity:
If the quantity of water flowing
through the soil in unit time is q,
then
q = A V = A v Vs

Vs = seepage velocity
where

A v = area of void in the cross

section of
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi
the specimen
IUST 29
 Seepage Velocity

An estimate of actual velocity, νs

referred to as the seepage velocity
can be made by considering the

A V =A Avv Vs
following equation:

V Vs
A
=
V= n (6 -

Vs
4)

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 30

Range of Validity of
Darcy’s Law
Darcy’s type of flow is stable in
character as long as the four basic
conditions are always satisfied:
o The steady state is laminar flow with
no changes in hydraulic gradient
o Hundred percent saturation and no
air bubbles in the soil voids,
o Flow fulfilling continuity conditions
o No volume changes occur during or
as a result of flow.
o The total cross sectional area of
soil mass is considered.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 31
 Hydraulic Conductivity
Permeability is also known as
hydraulic conductivity.
Hydraulic conductivity, marked as
K, or K- values, is one of the
principal and most important soil
hydrology (hydraulic)
characteristic (parameter) and it
is an important factor in water
transport in the soil and is used in
all equations
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi
for groundwater
IUST 32
(subsurface water) flow.
 Hydraulic Conductivity

 The value of hydraulic

conductivity varies widely
for different soils.
 The hydraulic conductivity of
unsaturated soils is lower
and increases rapidly with
the degree of
saturation.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 33
 Hydraulic Conductivity
 The coefficient of
permeability also varies with
temperature, upon which the
viscosity of the water depends.
 The coefficient of permeability

(6 -
can also be represented
k 20

k T by the
5)
T

 20
o

equation
whe 

Ti = Viscocity o f water at temperature t

o

re
and 20°
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 34
The Value of Hydraulic
Conductivity
 Typical value for saturated soils are
given in the following table:

Soiltype K , cm/sec.
Clean gravel 100 – 1.0
Coarse sand 1.0 – 0.01
Fine sand 0.01 – 0.001
Silty clay 0.001 –
0.00001
Clay < 0.00001
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 35
 Empirical Relation for K
 Several empirical equation for
estimating k have been proposed in
the past .
Some of
these are: For
k (cm / sec)  cD10 (6 -
6)
uniform sand
whe 2

c = a constant that varies

re:
from 1 to 1.5 D10 = the
effective size, in mm
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 36
 Empirical Relation for K

For dense or
(6 -
compacted sand
k (cm / sec)  0.35D15
2 7)
For medium to
fine sand k  1.4e 2 0.85 (6 -
whe 8)
k
k = hydraulic conductivity at a void
re
ratio e
k 0.85 = the corresponding value at a
void ratio of 0.85.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 37
 Hydraulic Conductivity (K)

 Hydraulic Conductivity, k, is a
measure of
soil permeability
 k is determined in the lab using
two methods:
Constant-Head Test
Falling-Head Test
 K is usually expressed in cm/sec
 Hydraulic conductivity is also
known
Dr. Abdulmannanas
Orabi t
he coefficient
IUST of 38

permeability
Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Constant – Head Test
The permeability test is a measure
of the rate of the flow of
water through soil.
In this test, water is forced by a
known constant pressure through a
soil specimen of known
dimensions and the rate of flow is
determined. This test is used
primarily
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi to determine
IUST the 39

suitability of sands and

Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Constant – Head Test
 The constant head test is used
primarily for coarse-grained soils
 This test is based on the assumption
of a
l minar flow
where k is independent of i (low
values of i)
 This test applies a constant head of
water to each end of a soil in
a “permeameter”
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 40
Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Constant – Head Test
 ASTM D 2434
 In this type of laboratory setup, the
water supply at the inlet is adjusted in
such a way that the difference of head
between the inlet and the outlet
remains constant during the test
period. After a constant flow rate is
established, water is collected in a
graduated flask for a known duration.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 41
Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Constant – Head Wate
r
Test supp
ly

The total
volume of
water
Q  At  A (k  i
collected L
Soil
)t
o
may be
QL
(6 -
r 
K
expressed
as: Aht 9)
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 42
Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Constant – Head Test
Where :
Q = volume of water collected
A = area of cross section of the
soil specimen

∆
i=
t = duration of water
collection, and

L
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 43
Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Falling – Head Test
 Relatively for less permeable soils
 Water flows through the sample from
a standpipe attached to the top of the
cylinder.
 The head of water (h) changes with
time as flow occurs through the soil.
At different times the head of water
is recorded.
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 44
Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Falling – Head Test
A typical arrangement of the
falling-head permeability test is shown
in figure in the next slid.
Water from a standpipe flows through
the soil , the initial head difference h1
at time t=0 is recorded and water is
allowed to flow through the soil
specimen such that the final head
difference at time t = t2 is h2. 45
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST
Determination of
at t =
Coefficient of Permeability
t1
Falling – Head Sta

at t =
Test nd
pipe

For the falling- t2

head test, the Poro
1 us
velocity of fall
d
ston

V = - dis:
2
e
in the So

t
il
standpipe
Poro
us
ston
e

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST

Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Falling – Head Test
The flow into the qi 
n
sample is : a= area a
dh
of standpipe
From Darcy’s law the dt
flow out is h
q out  k A
L
h A  a dh
o k
q out  q int L dt
r
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 47
Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Falling – Head Test
Separating variables and integrating
over the limits:
A
T h
dh
2 1

k  dt a
L h
T

1 h 2

We
obtain a h1
t = time k l
 AL  t n h2
2.303 a L
L = Length of the fine soil

k lo
1
(6 -
A = cross section area of

A
= g 10)
soil a= cross section area of

t
tube

2
K = Coefficient of
permeability
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 48
Determination of
Coefficient of Permeability
Field Tests for K
Field tests are generally more reliable
than laboratory tests for determining
soil permeability , the main reason
being that field tests are performed on
the undisturbed soil exactly as it occurs
in situ at the test location.

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 49

 Field Tests for K
Pumping
Method
 Confined
aquifer:
Impervious
layer

Impervious
layer 50
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST
 Field Tests for K
Pumping
Method
q  kiA  k
dh
2 r
dr H
r2 h2
dr 
  2
r
q kH dh
r1 h1

Integrating r
q ln r2  2 k H (h2  h 1
gives )
(6 -
1 q ln ( r 2 / r1 )

11)
Solving for k k
 2H (h2  h1)
yields
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 51
 Field Tests for K
Pumping
Method
 Unconfined
aquifer

dh
q  kiA  k 2  rh
dr
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 52
 Field Tests for K
Pumping
Method
r2 h2
To determined kr  2 
  kh
r
q dh
r1 h1
2 2
q ln r  k
r2(h 2  h 1
)

(6 -
q ln(r2 /
12)
1
k
 r1 ) 22  h 12 )
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi
(h IUST 53
Capillary Rise in Soil

Ground
surface
Dry soil
Unsaturated
-
- u soil G.W.
Saturat so

h T
il

+h
ed

+u
 Capillary Rise in Soil

Above the water table, when the soil is

saturated, pore pressure will be
negative (less than atmospheric).
The height above the
water table to which the
soil is saturated is called
the capillary rise, and
this depends on the
grain size and the size
55 ofDr.
IUST
pores. In
Abdulmannan Orabi

coarse soils, the

 Capillary Rise in Soil
The continuous void spaces in soil
can behave as bundles of
capillary tubes of variable
cross section.
Because of surface tension force,
water may rise above the phreatic
surface. Tub
e
Wate
r
surfa
ce

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 56

 Capillary Rise in Soil
The height of rise of water in the
capillary tube can be given by summing
the forces in the vertical direction, or
T T
rrd2 e
rrd Ts cos5 ue
y 4w
s α α s

=
4 Ts
(6 -
Tub
e
cos5
d w 13)
=
e
e
y Water - +
surfac
e h

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 57

 Capillary Rise in Soil
The surface tension Ts of
water at 20°C can be taken as equal to
75 × 10 - 8 kN per cm. Equation (6- 13)
can be simplified by assuming a =0

75 × 10 -8 ×
and by substituting for Ts. Therefore,
4 4 ∗
=
10
e=
for the case of water, the capillary
height T dyw 6

or =
hc can be written as
s 0.3 9.81 d(6 -
e d 14)
hc and d are
expressed in cm
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 58
Permeability in Stratified Soil
In general, natural soil deposits are
stratified In a
stratified soil deposit where the
hydraulic conductivity for flow in a
given direction changes from layer to
layer, an equivalent hydraulic
conductivity can be computed to
simplify calculations.

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 59

Permeability in Stratified Soil
Flow in the horizontal direction
(parallel to layer

q
k1 H1
1
k2 H q
q2 k H
2
q4 3 3

3 k H
q
L

4 4

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 60

 Permeability in Stratified Soil
Flow in the horizontal direction (parallel
to layer )
The total flow through the cross

q = q1 + q2 + q3 + ⋯ + qn
section in unit time can be written as:

V×1×H= V1 × 1 × H1 + V2 × 1 × H2 + ⋯
+ Vn × Hn
where
υ = average discharge velocity
υ1Abdulmannan
Dr. , υ2, υOrabi
3, … υn = discharge
IUST velocities 61

of flow in layers
 Permeability in Stratified Soil
Flow in the horizontal direction
(parallel to layer

i =flow
i1 =path
i2 = length
⋯ = i n L will be
For horizontal flow, the head h over
the
S same
the same for each
o equivalent
An layer. of
coefficient
permeability in horizontal

(6 -
direction is:
14)
1 H
k 1 H (k H1  kH 2 H2 ..... kHn Hn
H

)
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 62
Permeability in Stratified Soil
Flow in the vertical direction
(perpendicular to
For vertical
layers)
q
flow, the flow
rate, q through
k1 q1
area A of

q = same.
q1 = q2 = ⋯ =
H1
each layer is H

k2 q2
qn
the
H2
k3 q3
H3

k4 q4
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 63
 Permeability in Stratified Soil
Flow in the vertical direction
(perpendicular to
layers)
The total head loss is the sum of
head losses in all layers
h  h1  h2  h3  .......  hn

iH  i 1 H 1  i 2 H 2  i 3H 3
.......  i n H n
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 64

 1  2  3
 Permeability in Stratified Soil
Flow in the vertical direction
(perpendicular to
layers)
An equivalent ( average) coefficient of
kpermeability in vertical direction is (6 -
H

15)
v
 H 1
H 2
H 3
)  ..........  n
( k )  ( k )  ( k k
1 2 3 H n
( )

In stratified soils, average horizontal

permeability is greater than average
vertical permeability .
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 65
 Pore Solid
air particle

Pore
water

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi

66 IUST
 Worked Examples
Example 1
Refer to the constant –head
arrangement shown in figure ( slide
No 22 ). For a test, the following are
given:
a) L = 400 mm
b) A = 135 cm^2
c) h = 450 mm
d) Water collected in 3 min =
640 cm^3
e) Void ratio of
soil = 0.54
Determine
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi the IUST 67

1)Coefficient of
 Worked Examples
Example 2
In a constant – head
permeability test in the
laboratory, the following are
given:
L = 300 mm and A = 110
cm^2.
If the value of k = 0.02 cm/sec and
a flow rate of 140 cm^3/min must be
maintained
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi through IUST
the soil, what is 68
the head difference, h, across the
 Worked Examples
Example 3
For a variable – head test, the
following are given: length of
specimen = 380 mm; area of
specimen = 6.5 cm^2;
k = 0.175 cm/min. What should be
the area of the standpipe for the
head to drop from 650 cm to 300
cm in 8 min?
Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 69
 Worked Examples
Example 4
A permeable soil layer is underline by
animpervious
layer, as shown in figure. With k = 0.0048
cm/sec for the permeable layer, calculate
the rate of seepage through it in
m^3 /hr/m width if H= 3m and α = 5

Dr. Abdulmannan Orabi IUST 70

 Worked Examples
Example 5
A layered soil is shown in figure below.
ratio of equivalent
Estimate the k h (e
permeability k
q )

K1 = 10- 3 cm/sec H1 = 1.5

v (e

m
q )

K2 = 2 × 1 0 - 4
cm/sec H2 = 2 m

K 3 = 1 0 - 5 cm/sec H3 = 4

K4 = 2 × 1 0 - 3
m H4 =
cm/sec
Dr. AbdulmannanNot
Orabito scale 3 IUST
m 71