Practice Problems (Permeability, Compaction, Compressibility)

Problems: Flow of Water through Soils
1. For a normally consolidated clay soil, the following values are given:
Void Ratio k (cm/sec)
1.1 0.302 x 10-7
0.9 0.12 x 10-7
The hydraulic conductivity for normally consolidated clay is given by the following equation:
𝑒𝑛
𝑘 = 𝐶3
1+𝑒
where e is the void ratio, C3 and n are constants to be determined. (a) Determine the values of n
and C3. (b) Estimate the hydraulic conductivity of the clay at a void ratio of 0.75.
2. For a constant head laboratory permeability test (see

Figure) on a fine sand, the following values are given:
Length of
specimen, L = 10 inches; diameter of specimen = 2.5
inches;
head difference, h = 22 inches; water collected in 2 min =
0.044 in.3. The void ratio of the specimen is 0.34.
(a) Determine the conductivity, k, of the soil in in./min.
(b) Determine the discharge velocity through the soil in
in./min.
(c) Determine the seepage velocity in in./min.
3. A soil sample 10 cm in diameter is placed in a tube 1 m long. A

constant supply of water is allowed to flow into one end of the soil
at A and the outflow at B is collected by a beaker, as shown in the
figure. The average amount of water collected is 1 cc for every 10
seconds. The tube is inclined as shown. (a) Determine the
average velocity of flow through the soil in cm/sec. (b) Determine
the seepage velocity (velocity through the void spaces) in cm/sec.
(c) Determine the coefficient of permeability of the soil in cm/sec.
4. A sand layer having the cross-sectional as shown in the

figure has been determined to exist for a 350-meter
length of the levee. The coefficient of permeability of the
sand layer is 3.5 m/day. Determine the flow of water into
the ditch in lit/min.
5. A falling-head permeability test was run on a soil

sample 9.6 cm in diameter and 10 cm long. The head
at the start of the test was 90 cm. The coefficient of
permeability of the soil was found to be 5 x 10-6 cm/s.
The diameter of the standpipe was 1 cm. (a)
Determine the flow at the start of the test, in cm3/hr.
(b) Determine how much head was lost during the
first 30 min. (c) Determine the flow after 30 minutes,
in cm3/hr.
6. A permeable soil is underlain by an impervious layer,
as shown in the figure. For the permeable layer,
k = 0.0048 cm/sec. H = 3 m and α = 5o. (a) Calculate
the hydraulic gradient. (b) Calculate the flow of water
per meter width in m3/hr. (c) Calculate the total
amount of water percolated per day per meter width, in
cu.m.
7. Water flows through the permeable layer as shown in

the figure. Given H = 3.5 ft, h = 4.6 ft, L = 120 ft, α =
14o, and k = 0.0016 ft/sec. Consider 1 ft width
perpendicular to the figure. (a) Calculate the hydraulic
gradient in percent. (b) Calculate the flow of water per
ft width in ft3/hr. (c) Calculate the total amount of water
percolated per day per ft width, in cubic ft.
8. The figure shows layers of soil in a tube that is 100 mm x

100 mm in cross-section. Water is supplied to maintain a
constant head difference of 400 mm across the sample.
The hydraulic conductivities of the soils in the direction of
flow through them are as follows:
Soil k (cm/sec) Porosity, n
A 1 x 10-2 25%
B 3 x 10-3 32%
C 4.9 x 10-4 22%
(a) Calculate the equivalent k in m/sec. (b) Calculate the
rate of water supply in cm3/hr. (c) Calculate the
seepage velocity through soil C in m/sec.
9. Given the stratified soil shown in the figure. The

properties of each soil are as follows:
coefficient of permeability:
k1 = 6.25 cm/hr; k2 = 5.75 cm/hr, k3 = 4.50 cm/hr
k4 = 6.25 cm/hr, k5 = 8.15 cm/hr, k6 = 3.60 cm/hr
Thickness:
H = 1.20 m, H3 = 0.30 m, H4 = 0.50 m, H5 = 0.40 m
Length:
L1 = 0.8 m, L2 = 0.7 m, L3 = 1.5 m; L6 = 0.9 m
Head, h = 1.8 m
(a) Determine the total flow per meter. (b) Determine the equivalent coefficient of permeability.
10. A canal is cut into a soil with a stratigraphy shown in

the figure. Assume flow takes place laterally and
vertically through the sides of the canal and vertically
below the canal. The values of k = kx = kz in each
layer are given. (a) What is the equivalent
permeability in the horizontal direction through the
sides of the canal in cm/day? (b) What is the
equivalent permeability in the vertical directions
through the sides of the canal in cm/day? (c)
Determine the equivalent permeability in the vertical
directions below the bottom of the canal in cm/day.

Practice Problems (Permeability, Compaction, Compressibility)

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Practice Problems (Permeability, Compaction, Compressibility)

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Problems: Flow of Water through Soils

2. For a constant head laboratory permeability test (see

3. A soil sample 10 cm in diameter is placed in a tube 1 m long. A

4. A sand layer having the cross-sectional as shown in the

5. A falling-head permeability test was run on a soil

7. Water flows through the permeable layer as shown in

8. The figure shows layers of soil in a tube that is 100 mm x

9. Given the stratified soil shown in the figure. The

10. A canal is cut into a soil with a stratigraphy shown in

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