ASTM D5856-95
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Porous Material Using a Rigid-Wall, Compaction-Mold Permeameter
Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Porous Material Using a Rigid-Wall, Compaction-Mold Permeameter
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers laboratory measurement of the hydraulic conductivity (also referred to as ) of laboratory-compacted materials with a rigid-wall, compaction-mold permeameter.
1.2 This test method may be used with laboratory-compacted specimens that have a hydraulic conductivity less than or equal to 1 X 10 -5 m/s. The hydraulic conductivity of compacted materials that have hydraulic conductivities greater than 1 X 10 -5 m/s may be determined by Test Method D 2434.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard, unless other units are specifically given. By tradition in U.S. practice, hydraulic conductivity is reported in centimetres per second, although the common SI units for hydraulic conductivity are metres per second.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: D 5856 – 95
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Porous Material
Using a Rigid-Wall, Compaction-Mold Permeameter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5856; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 5084 Test Method for Measurement of Hydraulic Con-
ductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a Flexible
1.1 This test method covers laboratory measurement of the
Wall Permeameter
hydraulic conductivity (also referred to as coeffıcient of per-
E 145 Specification for Gravity-Convection and Forced-
meability) of laboratory-compacted materials with a rigid-wall,
Ventilation Ovens
compaction-mold permeameter.
1.2 This test method may be used with laboratory-
3. Terminology
compacted specimens that have a hydraulic conductivity less
−5
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
than or equal to 1 3 10 m/s. The hydraulic conductivity of
3.1.1 flux—quantity of flow per unit area per unit time.
compacted materials that have hydraulic conductivities greater
−5
3.1.2 hydraulic conductivity, k—the rate of discharge of
than 1 3 10 m/s may be determined by Test Method D 2434.
water under laminar flow conditions through a unit cross-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
sectional area of a porous medium under a unit hydraulic
standard, unless other units are specifically given. By tradition
gradient and standard temperature conditions (20°C).
in U.S. practice, hydraulic conductivity is reported in centime-
3.1.2.1 Discussion—The term coeffıcient of permeability is
tres per second, although the common SI units for hydraulic
often used instead of hydraulic conductivity, but hydraulic
conductivity are metres per second.
conductivity is used exclusively in this test method. A more
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
complete discussion of the terminology associated with Dar-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
cy’s law is given in the literature .
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.3 pore volume of flow—the cumulative quantity of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
outflow from a test specimen divided by the volume of pore
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
space in the specimen.
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.4 For definitions of other terms used in this test method
see Terminology D 653.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
4. Significance and Use
Fluids
4.1 This test method applies to one-dimensional, laminar
D 698 Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Character-
flow of water within laboratory-compacted, porous materials
istics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft (600
3 2
such as soil.
KN-m/m ))
2 4.2 The hydraulic conductivity of porous materials gener-
D 854 Test Method for Specific Gravity of Soils
ally decreases with an increasing amount of air in the pores of
D 1557 Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Character-
3 the material. This test method applies to porous materials
istics of Soil Using Modified Effort (56 000 ft-lbf/ft (2700
3 2
containing little or no air. The test method is designed to
KN-m/m ))
minimize the amount of air in the test specimen. However, this
D 2216 Method for Laboratory Determination of Water
2 test method does not ensure complete saturation of the test
(Moisture) Content in Soil and Rock
specimen with water. In cases where it is essential to saturate
D 2434 Test Method for Permeability of Granular Soils
2 the test specimen fully with water, the compacted specimen
(Constant Head)
may be tested using Test Method D 5084.
D 4753 Specification for Evaluating, Selecting, and Speci-
4.3 This test method applies to permeation of porous mate-
fying Balances and Scales for Use in Testing Soil, Rock,
2 rials with water. Permeation with other liquids, such as
and Related Construction Materials
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil
and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.04 on Hydrologic Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
Properties of Soil and Rock. Olson, R. E., and Daniel, D. E., “Measurement of the Hydraulic Conductivity
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1995. Published January 1996. of Fine-Grained Soils,” Symposium on Permeability and Groundwater Contaminant
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08. Transport, ASTM STP 746, ASTM, 1981, pp. 18–64.
D 5856
chemical wastes, can be accomplished using procedures simi- graduated pipette, or any other device of suitable accuracy.
lar to those described in this test method. However, this test Falling head tests may be performed with either a constant
method is only intended to be used when water is the permeant tailwater elevation (Test Method B), rising tailwater elevation
liquid. (Test Method C), or increasing tailwater elevation (Test
4.4 It is assumed that Darcy’s law is valid and that the Method D).
hydraulic conductivity is essentially unaffected by hydraulic 5.1.3 Constant Rate of Flow—The system must be capable
gradient. The validity of Darcy’s law may be evaluated by of maintaining a constant rate of flow through the specimen to
measuring the hydraulic conductivity of the specimen at three within 6 5 % or better. Flow measurement or control shall be
hydraulic gradients; if all measured values are similar (within by calibrated syringe, graduated pipette, or other device of
25 %), then Darcy’s law may be taken as valid. However, when suitable accuracy. The head loss across the specimen shall be
the hydraulic gradient acting on a test specimen is changed, the measured to an accuracy of 6 5 % or better using an electronic
state of stress will also change, and, if the specimen or pore pressure transducer or other device of suitable accuracy. A
fluid is compressible, the volume of the test specimen or pore means to ensure that the head being measured is not affected by
fluid will change. Thus, some change in hydraulic conductivity sidewall leakage should be included. More information on
may occur when the hydraulic gradient is altered, even in cases testing with a constant rate of flow is given in the literature .
where Darcy’s law is valid. 5.2 Flow Measurement System—Both inflow and outflow
4.5 One potential problem with this method of testing is the volumes shall be measured or controlled. Flow volumes shall
possibility that water will flow along the interface between the be measured by a graduated accumulator, graduated pipette,
test specimen and the compaction/permeameter ring. The graduated cylinder, vertical standpipe in conjunction with an
problem tends to be of minimal significance for materials that electronic pressure transducer, marriotte bottle, or other
swell when exposed to water (for example, compacted, clayey volume-measuring device of suitable accuracy. For long-term
soils) but can be a very serious problem for materials that tests, evaporative losses may be significant and should be
might tend to shrink and pull away from the walls of the accounted for using a suitable correction procedure.
permeameter. Test Method D 5084 is recommended for any 5.2.1 Flow Accuracy—Required accuracy for the quantity
material that tends to shrink when exposed to the permeant of flow measured over an interval of time is 6 5 % or better.
liquid. 5.2.2 Head Losses—Head losses in the tubes, valves, po-
4.6 The correlation between results obtained with this test rous end pieces, and filter paper may lead to error. To guard
method and the hydraulic conductivities of in-place, com- against such errors, the permeameter shall be assembled with
pacted materials has not been fully investigated. Experience no specimen inside (but with any porous end pieces or sheets
has sometimes shown that flow patterns in small, laboratory- of filter paper that will be used) and then the hydraulic system
prepared test specimens do not necessarily follow the same filled. If a constant or falling head test is to be used, the
patterns on large field scales and that hydraulic conductivities hydraulic pressures or heads that will be used in testing a
measured on small test specimens are not necessarily the same specimen shall be applied, and the rate of flow measured with
as larger-scale values. Therefore, the results should be applied an accuracy of 6 5 % or better. This rate of flow shall be at
to field situations with caution and by qualified personnel. least ten times greater than the rate of flow that is measured
when a specimen has been compacted inside the permeameter
5. Apparatus
and the same hydraulic pressures or heads are applied. If a
5.1 Hydraulic System—Constant head (Test Method A),
constant rate of flow test is to be used, the rate of flow to be
falling head (Test Methods B, C, and D), or constant rate of
used in testing a specimen shall be supplied to the permeameter
flow (Test Method E) systems may be used provided they meet
and the head loss measured. The head loss without a specimen
the criteria outlined as follows:
shall be less than 0.1 times the head loss when a specimen is
5.1.1 Constant Head—The system must be capable of
present.
maintaining a constant hydraulic pressure or head to within 6
5.3 Permeameter Cell—The permeameter cell shall consist
5 % and shall include means to measure hydraulic pressures or
of a rigid-wall compaction mold into which the material to be
heads to within the prescribed tolerance. In addition, the head
tested is compacted and in which the compacted material is
loss across the test specimen must be held constant to within 6
permeated; and two end plates to control flow into and out of
5 % and shall be measured with the same accuracy or better.
the test specimen. A swell ring may be provided as discussed in
Pressures shall be measured by a pressure gage, electronic
5.3.2. The permeameter shall be designed and operated so that
pressure transducer, or any other device of suitable accuracy.
permeant water flows downward through the test specimen,
Head of liquid in a standpipe may be measured with a
although upward flow may be used if the top of the specimen
graduated pipette, ruler, scale, or other device of suitable
is protected from upward movement by a rigid porous element.
accuracy.
5.3.1 Compaction Mold/Permeameter Ring—The compac-
5.1.2 Falling Head—The system shall allow for measure-
tion mold/permeameter ring shall be constructed of a rigid
ment of the applied head loss, thus hydraulic gradient, to
material that will not be damaged during compaction of the test
within6 5 % or better at any time. In addition, the ratio of
specimen and that will not undergo adverse chemical reactions
initial head loss divided by final head loss over an interval of
time shall be measured such that this computed ratio is accurate
Olsen, H. W., Gill, J. D., Willden, A. T., and Nelson, N. R.,“ Innovations in
to within 6 5 %. The head loss shall be measured with a
Hydraulic Conductivity Measurements,” Transportation Research Record No. 1309,
pressure gage, electronic pressure transducer, engineer’s scale, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington, DC, 1991.
D 5856
with the test material or permeant water. Materials such as
steel, aluminum, brass, plastic, and glass have been used. The
mold shall be sufficiently rigid so that its expansion when the
permeameter is pressurized is negligibly small. The mold can
be any cylindrical shape so long as: the cross-sectional area
along the direction of flow does not vary by more than 6 2%;
height and diameter are each $ 25 mm; height does not vary
by more than 6 1 %, and the largest particle and clod size in
the compacted specimen is # ⁄6 the lesser of the height or
diameter.
5.3.2 Swell Ring—The top of the permeameter may be
designed to function in one of three ways: (1) to allow no
restraint against swelling (see Fig. 1), in which case a swell
ring separates the compaction mold/permeameter ring from the
top plate; (2) to allow no swelling of the test specimen (see Fig.
2), in which case no swell ring is provided; or (3) to control the
vertical stress that is applied to the test specimen (see Fig. 3),
in which case a swell ring may or may not be needed,
depending upon how the top plate is designed and how the
vertical stress is applied. If a swell ring is used, it shall be
FIG. 2 Compaction-Mold Permeameter in Which Test Specimen
constructed of a rigid material that will not react adversely with
Cannot Swell
the test material or permeant water, shall have the same
diameter or width as the compaction mold/permeameter ring, of preventing the test specimen from swelling downward,
and shall be sufficiently high to allow free swelling of the test supporting the test specimen, collecting effluent liquid from the
base of the test specimen, and ensuring one-dimensional flow
specimen or to accommodate stress-control apparatus. Sand
may be placed in the swell ring to minimize erosion of the near the effluent end of the test specimen. The base plate shall
be sealed to the compaction mold/permeameter ring, for
specimen from influent flow provided that the sand is included
in the measurement of head losses in the permeameter (see example, with an O-ring, to prevent leakage. Checks for leaks,
conducted without soil in the cell, are helpful to ensure
5.2.2).
5.3.3 Stress-Control Apparatus—If the upper surface of the adequacy of the seals. Careful examination of the seal is
particularly important when the apparatus is disassembled and
compacted test specimen is subjected to a controlled vertical
stress, the stress shall be applied through a rigid plate using any re-assembled during the test. The bottom plate shall contain a
porous material (such as porous plastic, porous metal, porous
means that maintains the stress within 6 5 % of the desired
value. corundum, or well-compacted sand) that is far more permeable
than the test specimen (5.2.2 ensures that this is the case) and
5.3.4 Bottom Plate—The bottom plate shall be constructed
of rigid material that does not react adversely with the test that has the same overall diameter or width as the test
specimen. Two base plate designs are acceptable:
material or permeant liquid. The plate shall serve the purpose
5.3.4.1 Single-Ring—This design (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Fig.
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