The hydraulic conductivity depends on the following: 1. Soil type: Coarse-grained soils have higher hydraulic conductivities than fine-grained soils. The water in the double layer in fine-grained soils significantly reduces the seepage pore space. 2. Particle size: Hydraulic conductivity depends on D3, (or Dy) for coarse-grained soils. ‘ky:ky © wa:atys Where subscripts 1 and 2 denote two 3. Pore fluid properties, particularly viscosit a given soil types of pore fluid! 4, Void ratio: ky:kz ~ e3:e3, where subscripts 1 and 2 denote two types of soil fabric for coarse-grained soils. This ratio is useful in comparing the hydraulic conductivities of similar soils with different void ratios. 5, Pore size: The greater the pore size, the higher the hydraulic conductivity 6. Homogeneity, layering, and fissuring: Water tends to seep quickly through loose layers, through fissures, and along the interface of layered soils. Catastrophic failures can occur from such seepage. 7. Entrapped gases: Entrapped gases tend to reduce the hydraulic conductivity. Itis often very difficult to get gas-free soils, Even soils that are under groundwater level and are assumed to be saturated may still have some entrapped gases. 8 Validity of Darcy’s law: Darcy’s law is valid only for lamins 2000). r flow (Reynold’s number less than For a homogeneous soil, the hydraulic conductivity depends predominantly on void ratio. You should recall that the void ratio is dependent on the soil fabric or structural arrangement of the soil grains. A number of empirical relationships have been proposed linking k to void ratio and grain size for coarse- grained soils. Hazen (1930) conducted permeability tests on sands with Do ranging from 0.1 mm (0.004 in) to 3 mm (0.012 in) and Cu < 5 (Cu is the uniformity coefficient; Cu = Dgy/Dyo) and proposed that k = CDjqcmisec (1.20) where C is a constant varying between 04 and 1.2 if the unit of measurement of Dio is mm. Typically, C=10. The void ratio is generally not the same in each direction, so isnot the same in each direction. The hydraulic conductivity for horizontal flow parallel to soil layers is generally greater than the hydraulic conductivity for vertical flow normal to the soil layers. For layered soils, an equivalent hydraulic conductivity given as hea = yfxeayFetea) 21) is used, where ky(eq) and kz(oq) are the equivalent hydraulic Conductivities for horizontal flow parallel to the soil layers and vertical flow normal to the soil layers, respectively. Two types of tests are used to determine the hydraulic conductivity. One, the constant head test (ASTM D2434), is used for coarse-grained soils. The other, the falling head test, is used for fine-grained soils. The key points are: |. The flow of water through soils is governed by Darcy’s law, which states that the average flow velocity is proportional to the hydraulic gradient. 2. The proportionality coefficient in Darcy’s law is called the hydraulic conductivity, k. 3. The value of kis influenced by (among other factors) the void ratio, particle size distribution, and the wholeness of the soil mass. 4. Homogeneous clays are practically impervious, while sands and gravels are pervious.