The Movement of Water through Soil

The problems that are solved in this chapter investigate the flow of water through interconnected pores between soil particles in both one and two dimensions. To obtain the coefficient of permeability k (or hydraulic conductivity ) two common laboratory test methods of constant head and falling head are used. These methods are described through Problems 3.1 to 3.3. The flow is assumed laminar and Darcy’s law is valid. Problem 3.4 shows the application of Darcy’s law in formulating the flow rate in a two-dimensional flow problem. Problems 3.5 and 3.6 are related to the in-situ test methods of obtaining the coefficient of permeability in unconfined and confined aquifers. The equivalent coefficients of permeability in layered soils (parallel and normal to the stratum) are explained in Problem 3.7. Using a simplified approach the flow nets that, describe the seepage flow, are constructed and used to obtain the flow rate under the impermeable dams or sheet piles (Problems 3.8 and 3.9). The flow within a permeable dam is explained by Problems 3.10 and 3.11.