ASTM D4511-11(2020)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Hydraulic Conductivity of Essentially Saturated Peat
Standard Test Method for Hydraulic Conductivity of Essentially Saturated Peat
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Values of hydraulic conductivity determined by this test method may be useful in making rough preliminary estimates of the initial rates of drainage and compression of peat deposits when the only effective stress increase on the deposit is that resulting from a moderate, gradual lowering of the water table.
4.2 Even under light, sustained loads, peat will undergo dramatic volume changes that influence (decrease) the hydraulic conductivity of the deposit by several orders of magnitude. This test method does not offer provisions for the determination of the relationship between hydraulic conductivity and the void ratios corresponding to increasing stress levels. Therefore, this test method is not suitable for applications involving grade increases, such as embankment construction or placement of access berms alongside drainage ditches.
4.3 Undisturbed specimens from apparently homogeneous peat deposits at the same location often exhibit significantly different hydraulic conductivity properties due to variations in material composition and sampling procedure.
Note 1: The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself ensure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the hydraulic conductivity (permeability) of essentially saturated, intact cylindrical specimens of peat when the hydraulic conductivity is greater than 1 × 10−7 m/s (1 × 10−5 cm/s). During the test, the specimens are contained in the core holder, or in right, regular cylindrical sections cut from the sampling tube in which they were originally obtained in the field.
1.2 Hydraulic conductivity is calculated on the basis of the measured constant flow rate through the specimen under constant head.2 For verification, flow rate determinations may be made at two or more values of constant head with corresponding calculations of hydraulic conductivity.
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3.1 The converted inch-pound units use the gravitational system of units. In this system, the pound (lbf) represents a unit of force (weight), while the unit for mass is slugs. The converted slug unit is not given, unless dynamic (F = ma) calculations are involved.
1.4 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guide for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026.
1.4.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded and calculated in this standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that should generally be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user's objectives, and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.
1.5 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internat...
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4511 − 11 (Reapproved 2020)
Standard Test Method for
Hydraulic Conductivity of Essentially Saturated Peat
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4511; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis
methods for engineering design.
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the hy-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
draulic conductivity (permeability) of essentially saturated,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
intact cylindrical specimens of peat when the hydraulic con-
−7 −5
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ductivity is greater than1×10 m/s (1 × 10 cm/s). During
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
the test, the specimens are contained in the core holder, or in
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
right,regularcylindricalsectionscutfromthesamplingtubein
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
which they were originally obtained in the field.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.2 Hydraulic conductivity is calculated on the basis of the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
measured constant flow rate through the specimen under
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
constant head. For verification, flow rate determinations may
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
be made at two or more values of constant head with
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
corresponding calculations of hydraulic conductivity.
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
2. Referenced Documents
as standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for
2.1 ASTM Standards:
information only and are not considered standard.
D653Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
1.3.1 The converted inch-pound units use the gravitational
Fluids
systemofunits.Inthissystem,thepound(lbf)representsaunit
D1587/D1587MPractice forThin-WalledTube Sampling of
of force (weight), while the unit for mass is slugs. The
Fine-Grained Soils for Geotechnical Purposes
converted slug unit is not given, unless dynamic (F = ma)
D2434Test Method for Permeability of Granular Soils
calculations are involved.
(Constant Head)
1.4 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the D2974Test Methods for Moisture,Ash, and Organic Matter
guideforsignificantdigitsandroundingestablishedinPractice
of Peat and Other Organic Soils
D6026. D3740Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
1.4.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/ Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
recorded and calculated in this standard are regarded as the Used in Engineering Design and Construction
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the D4220/D4220MPractices for Preserving and Transporting
significant digits that should generally be retained. The proce- Soil Samples
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for D4753Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Bal-
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider- ances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and
ations for the user’s objectives, and it is common practice to Construction Materials Testing
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be D6026Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope Data
2.2 NRC Document:
Peat Testing Manual
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.04 on Hydrologic
Properties and Hydraulic Barriers.
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2020. Published March 2020. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D4511–11. DOI: contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
10.1520/D4511-11R20. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Forfurtherinformation,see“MethodsforMeasurementofSaturatedHydraulic the ASTM website.
Conductivity,” Peat Testing Manual, Technical Memorandum No. 125, NRC National Research Council of Canada, Publications Section, Building R–88,
Canada, pp. 80–84. Ottawa, Canada K1A 0R6. Out of print.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D4511 − 11 (2020)
3. Terminology in 6.1.1 and 6.1.2. The assumption is made that these condi-
tions are satisfied if the flow rate, with time, is a linear
3.1 Definitions—For common definitions of terms in this
relationship.
standard, refer to Terminology D653.
5.3 Theresultofthetestmaybeinfluencedbyflowthrough
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
open passages between the specimen and the rigid wall of the
3.2.1 deaerated (de-aired) water—water in which the
specimencontainer.Ifsuchaconditionissuspectedorvisually
amount of dissolved gas (air) has been reduced.
verified, notice thereof should be made in the test report.
3.2.2 flow rate—the quantity of water flowing through the
test specimen in a given period of time, when subjected to a
6. Fundamental Test Conditions
certain constant head differential.
6.1 The following ideal test conditions are prerequisite for
3.2.3 soaking—placement of a specimen in water for the
laminar flow of water through porous media under constant-
purpose of removing gas contained in the pore space, through head conditions:
bouyancy, and replacement with water to cause saturation of
6.1.1 Continuity of flow with no volume change during a
the specimen. This method of saturation does not effectively
test,
remove all the gas contained in the specimen and does not
6.1.2 Flow with the void space saturated with water and no
prevent the continuous slow formation of gas from decompo-
air bubbles in the voids,
sition under anaerobic conditions.
6.1.3 Flow in the steady state with no changes in hydraulic
gradient, and
4. Significance and Use
6.1.4 Direct proportionality of flow velocity with hydraulic
gradients below certain values, after which flow becomes
4.1 Values of hydraulic conductivity determined by this test
turbulent.
method may be useful in making rough preliminary estimates
oftheinitialratesofdrainageandcompressionofpeatdeposits
6.2 All other types of flow involving partial saturation of
when the only effective stress increase on the deposit is that
void space, turbulent flow, and unsteady state of flow are
resultingfromamoderate,gradualloweringofthewatertable.
transient in character and yield variable and time-dependent
valuesofhydraulicconductivity;therefore,theyrequirespecial
4.2 Even under light, sustained loads, peat will undergo
test conditions and procedures.
dramatic volume changes that influence (decrease) the hydrau-
lic conductivity of the deposit by several orders of magnitude.
7. Apparatus
This test method does not offer provisions for the determina-
tionoftherelationshipbetweenhydraulicconductivityandthe
7.1 Flow Device—TheflowdeviceshallbeasshowninFig.
voidratioscorrespondingtoincreasingstresslevels.Therefore,
1, fitted with the following components:
thistestmethodisnotsuitableforapplicationsinvolvinggrade
7.1.1 Constant-Head Filter Tank, as shown in Fig. 1 ofTest
increases, such as embankment construction or placement of
Method D2434, to supply water and to remove most of the air
access berms alongside drainage ditches.
from the water. The tank shall be fitted with a suitable siphon.
4.3 Undisturbed specimens from apparently homogeneous
NOTE 2—Alternatively, deaerated water may be used, supplied from a
peat deposits at the same location often exhibit significantly
self-siphoning burette with attached inverted flask (minimum 750-mL
different hydraulic conductivity properties due to variations in capacity), filled with deaerated water, and closed with a rubber stopper
holding a tube, 150 cm (6 in.) long with the end cut diagonally.
material composition and sampling procedure.
7.1.2 Upper Reservoir,ofthesamediameterasthesampling
NOTE 1—The quality of the result produced by this standard is
cylinder and approximately 150 cm (6 in.) high.
dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the
suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the 7.1.3 Wire-Screen Support, fabricated from a ring clamp,
criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent
withaninsidediametergreaterthanthespecimencylinderand
and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are
covered with 425-µm (No. 40) wire mesh screening.
cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself ensure
7.1.4 Circular Disk, cut from 425-µm (No. 40) wire mesh
reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740
provides a means of evaluating some of those factors. screening, with a diameter 1 mm smaller than that of the
specimen.
5. Interferences
7.1.5 Funnel, with a head diameter at least 10% larger than
that of the specimen cylinder.
5.1 Due to the generally fibrous texture and extremely high
7.1.6 Two 400-mL Beakers.
compressibilityofpeat,presentsamplingtechnologiesmaynot
be able to obtain samples truly representative of the in situ
7.2 Balance—Abalance or scale conforming to the require-
conditions. Disturbance caused by sampling and specimen
ments of Specification D4753, readable (with no estimate) to
preparation as well as heterogeneity existing in situ may cause
0.1% of the test mass, or better.
the hydraulic conductivity determined using this method to be
7.3 Miscellaneous Apparatus and Materials, such as
significantly different than the in situ hydraulic conductivity.
thermometers, timer reading to nearest second, soaking pan,
5.2 There are no provisions in this test method for verifica- pipe cutters, trimming knife, cheese cloth, rubber bands, vinyl
tion of compliance with the fundamental test conditions listed electrical tape, and micro-crystalline wax.
D4511 − 11 (2020)
FIG. 1 Diagram for the Constant-Head System for Conductivity Measurement
NOTE 5—A chain-type pipe cutter, such as those used for cutting
8. Specimen Preparation and Set Up
automotive exhaust system pipe, is recommended.
8.1 Specimens shall have a minimum diameter of 73 mm
8.4 Place the specimen inside a so
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.