The Computation of Permeability from Simple Soil Tests

Synopsis Estimates of permeability of the ground are frequently required by civil engineering work involving the seepage of water. Several published formulae relating the permeability of beds of granular material to their geometrical properties are quoted. In order to assess the value of these formulae in calculating permeability, a comparison is made between measured and calculated values of permeability for a wide range of sands. Hazen's formula is quite useful because of its simplicity but the result may be inaccurate to the extent of ±2. Kozeny's formula is the best of those quoted, and if an estimate of the “angularity” of the grains is made, permeabilities of sand can be computed to an accuracy of about ±20 per cent. An empirical formula is given which is equally accurate and more simple to use. Computations of permeability by the methods described can be made only on clean sands. Pour les travaux de genie civil relatifs a des infiltrations d'eau, il est souvent něcessaire de faire 1'evaluation de l...