Site investigation · Laboratory: strength & consolidation
Permeability: flexible-wall (triaxial) calculator
Hydraulic conductivity from steady inflow/outflow under a back-pressure difference, temperature corrected to 20 °C.
Standard: ASTM D5084 · AS 1289.6.7.3
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Inputs in the worked example
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| Input | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Steady flow volume | 12.4 | mL |
| Time for that volume | 60 | min |
| Specimen length | 100 | mm |
| Specimen diameter | 50 | mm |
| Pressure difference | 20 | kPa |
| Water temperature | 23 | °C |
| Inflow volume | 12.9 | mL |
| Outflow volume | 12.4 | mL |
Worked example — results
| Result | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 0.002 | m² |
| Hydraulic gradient Δu/(γw L) | 20.39 | |
| k at test temperature | 0.000 | m/s |
| Viscosity ratio ηT/η20 | 0.931 | |
| k at 20 °C | 0.000 | m/s |
| Inflow/outflow ratio | 1.04 |
- ✓ Inflow/outflow within 0.75–1.25
- ✓ Gradient ≤ 30 (ASTM guidance)
Method, formulas and assumptions
- Area = PI()*(50/1000)^2/4 = 0.0019635 m²
- Hydraulic gradient Δu/(γw L) = 20/9.81/(100/1000) = 20.387
- k at test temperature = (12.4*1E-6)/(60*60)/(0.0019635*20.387) = 8.605e-8 m/s
- Viscosity ratio ηT/η20 = 10^(247.8/(23+133.15))/10^(247.8/153.15) = 0.93092
- k at 20 °C = 8.605e-8*0.93092 = 8.010e-8 m/s
- Inflow/outflow ratio = 12.9/12.4 = 1.0403
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For preliminary design and education. Check every result against the current standard and your own engineering judgement before use.