QUIZ GT104

Flow of Water through Soil

Lucas Montogue

► PROBLEMS

PROBLEM 1A (Hazarika & Ishibashi, 2010)

The next figure shows water flow through soil in an inclined cylindrical
specimen. The specimen’s k value is 3.4×10-4 cm/s. Which of the following
statements is false? Consider the velocity head to be negligible.

A) The pressure head at point A equals 230 mm.

B) The total head at point B equals 235.5 mm.
C) The total head at point C equals 226.6 mm.
D) The pressure head at point D equals 75 mm.

PROBLEM 1B
Compute the amount of water flow q through the specimen introduced in
the previous problem.
A) q = 1.33 × 10−3 cm3/s
B) q = 4.23 × 10−3 cm3/s
C) q = 7.21 × 10−3 cm3/s
D) q = 10.2 × 10−3 cm3/s

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PROBLEM 2
In a laboratory constant head permeability test, a cylindrical sample 100
mm in diameter and 150 mm high is subjected to an upward flow of 540 mL/min.
The head loss over the length of the sample is measured to be 360 mm. Calculate
the coefficient of permeability.

A) k = 1.6 × 10−4 cm/s

B) k = 2.5 × 10−4 cm/s
C) k = 3.2 × 10−4 cm/s
D) k = 4.8 × 10−4 cm/s

PROBLEM 3a
In a laboratory falling head test, the recorded data are: diameter of the
tube = 20 mm, diameter of the cell = 100 mm, length of the sample = 1000 mm.
The head measured from the top level of the sample dropped from 800 mm to
600 mm. Calculate the coefficient of permeability of the soil.

A) k = 1.6 × 10−4 cm/s

B) k = 2.5 × 10−4 cm/s
C) k = 3.2 × 10−4 cm/s
D) k = 4.8 × 10−4 cm/s

PROBLEM 3B
Suppose the experiment carried out in the previous problem was for a soil
at a temperature of 30oC. Calculate the coefficient of permeability for the same
soil at a temperature of 20oC. The viscosity of water is 1.005 × 10−3 N ∙ s/m2 at 20oC
and 0.801 × 10−3 N ∙ s/m2 at 30oC.

A) k = 1.6 × 10−4 cm/s

B) k = 2.5 × 10−4 cm/s
C) k = 3.2 × 10−4 cm/s
D) k = 4.8 × 10−4 cm/s

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 PROBLEM 4 (Venkatramaiah, 2006)

In a falling head permeability test, head causing flow was initially 50 cm

and it drops 2 cm in 5 minutes. How much time is required for the head to fall to
25 cm?

A) t = 23 min
B) t = 54 min
C) t = 85 min
D) t = 110 min

PROBLEM 5 (Murthy, 2002)

A sample in a variable head permeameter is 8 cm in diameter and 10 cm

high. The permeability of the sample is estimated to be 10 × 10−4 cm/s. If it is
desired that the head in the stand pipe should fall from 24 cm to 12 cm in 3
minutes, determine the diameter of the standpipe that should be used.

A) d = 7 mm
B) d = 13 mm
C) d = 21 mm
D) d = 29 mm

PROBLEM 6A (Powrie, 2004, w/ permission)

In an attempt to investigate the overall vertical permeability of a layered

deposit, an engineer carries out a falling head permeability test on an artificial
sample comprising 100 mm of silt overlying 100 mm of sand. The results from this
test are given in the next table. The cross-sectional area of the sample is 𝐴𝐴1 = 8000
mm3, the cross-sectional area of the top tube is 𝐴𝐴2 = 10 mm2, and the overall
sample length is L = 200 mm.

Time t since start of test (s) 0 40 100 190 330 600

Height of water in top tube h (m) 1.00 0.85 0.70 0.55 0.40 0.25

Plot a graph of ln(ℎ1 /ℎ) against t, with ℎ1 being the initial height of water in
the top tube, and explain its shape in terms of what happens to the overall vertical
permeability of the sample during the test. What, physically, might be the
explanation for this?

PROBLEM 6b
Estimate the overall permeability at the start and at the end of the test.
A) 𝑘𝑘𝑖𝑖 = 1.1 × 10−6 m/s and 𝑘𝑘𝑓𝑓 = 3.0 × 10−7 m/s
B) 𝑘𝑘𝑖𝑖 = 1.1 × 10−6 m/s and 𝑘𝑘𝑓𝑓 = 6.0 × 10−7 m/s
C) 𝑘𝑘𝑖𝑖 = 2.2 × 10−6 m/s and 𝑘𝑘𝑓𝑓 = 3.0 × 10−7 m/s
D) 𝑘𝑘𝑖𝑖 = 2.2 × 10−6 m/s and 𝑘𝑘𝑓𝑓 = 6.0 × 10−7 m/s

PROBLEM 7 (Evett & Liu, 2008, w/ permission)

A pump test was conducted on a test well in an unconfined aquifer, with

the results shown in the next figure. If the water was pumped at a steady flow of
185 gal/min, determine the coefficient of permeability of the permeable soil.

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A) 𝑘𝑘 = 1.12 × 10−5 ft/s
B) 𝑘𝑘 = 3.33 × 10−5 ft/s
C) 𝑘𝑘 = 5.67 × 10−5 ft/s
D) 𝑘𝑘 = 7.70 × 10−5 ft/s

PROBLEM 8 (Evett & Liu, 2008, w/ permission)

A pump test was conducted on a test well drilled into a confined aquifer,
with the results shown in the next figure. If water was pumped at a steady flow of
205 gal/min, determine the coefficient of permeability of the permeable soil in the
aquifer.

A) 𝑘𝑘 = 8.62 × 10−4 ft/s

B) 𝑘𝑘 = 1.05 × 10−3 ft/s
C) 𝑘𝑘 = 4.53 × 10−3 ft/s
D) 𝑘𝑘 = 7.81 × 10−3 ft/s

PROBLEM 9
A permeable soil layer is underlain by an impervious layer, as shown in the
figure below. With k = 4.5 × 10−5 m/s for the permeable layer, calculate the rate of
seepage through it in m3/hr/m width if H = 3 m and 𝛼𝛼 = 10o.

A) 𝑞𝑞 = 0.025 m3/hr/m
B) 𝑞𝑞 = 0.047 m3/hr/m
C) 𝑞𝑞 = 0.064 m3/hr/m
D) 𝑞𝑞 = 0.083 m3/hr/m

PROBLEM 10
A horizontally stratified soil deposit consists of three layers each uniform
in itself. The permeabilities of these layers are 8 × 10−4 cm/s, 52 × 10−4 cm/s, and
6 × 10−4 cm/s, and their thicknesses are 7, 3, and 10 m, as shown. What are the
effective average permeabilities of the deposit in the horizontal (𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 ) and vertical
(𝑘𝑘𝑧𝑧 ) directions?

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A) 𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 = 13.6 × 10−4 cm/s and 𝑘𝑘𝑧𝑧 = 3.6 × 10−4 cm/s
B) 𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 = 13.6 × 10−4 cm/s and 𝑘𝑘𝑧𝑧 = 7.7 × 10−4 cm/s
C) 𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 = 18.8 × 10−4 cm/s and 𝑘𝑘𝑧𝑧 = 3.6 × 10−4 cm/s
D) 𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 = 18.8 × 10−4 cm/s and 𝑘𝑘𝑧𝑧 = 7.7 × 10−4 cm/s

PROBLEM 11 (Evett & Liu, 2008, w/ permission)

A reservoir with a 35,000 ft2 area is underlain by layers of stratified soils as

depicted in the next figure. Compute the water loss from the reservoir in 1 year.
Assume that the pore pressure at the bottom sand layer is zero.

A) V = 105 m3
B) V = 352 m3
C) V = 647 m3
D) V = 920 m3

PROBLEM 12 (Das & Sobhan, 2014)

The hydraulic conductivity of a sand at a void ratio of 0.48 is 0.03 cm/s.

Estimate its hydraulic conductivity at a void ratio of 0.64.

A) 𝑘𝑘2 = 0.064 cm/s

B) 𝑘𝑘2 = 0.092 cm/s
C) 𝑘𝑘2 = 0.114 cm/s
D) 𝑘𝑘2 = 0.136 cm/s

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PROBLEM 13A (Venkatramaiah, 2006)
What is the critical hydraulic gradient of a sand deposit of specific gravity
Gs = 2.65 and void ratio e = 0.5?

A) 𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 = 0.6
B) 𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 = 1.1
C) 𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 = 1.6
D) 𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 = 2.1

PROBLEM 13B
A 1.25 m layer of soil (specific gravity Gs = 2.65 and porosity n = 35%) is
subjected to an upward seepage head of 1.85 m. What depth of coarse sand
would be required above the soil to provide a factor of safety of 2.0 against
piping? Assume that the coarse sand has the same porosity and specific gravity as
the soil and that there is negligible head loss in the sand.

A) 𝐻𝐻 = 1.05 m
B) 𝐻𝐻 = 1.63 m
C) 𝐻𝐻 = 2.21 m
D) 𝐻𝐻 = 2.83 m

PROBLEM 14
An earth dam is built on an impervious foundation with a horizontal filter
at the base near the toe. The permeability of the soil in the horizontal and vertical
directions are 3 × 10−2 mm/s and 1 × 10−2 mm/s, respectively. The full reservoir
level is 30 m above the filter. A flow net is constructed for the transformed section
of the dam and consists of 4 flow channels and 16 head drops. Estimate the
seepage loss per meter length of the dam.

A) 𝑞𝑞 = 130 mL/s
B) 𝑞𝑞 = 260 mL/s
C) 𝑞𝑞 = 390 mL/s
D) 𝑞𝑞 = 520 mL/s

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► SOLUTIONS

P.1 ■ Solution
Part A: According to Bernoulli’s equation, the total head ℎ𝑡𝑡 is given by the
sum of elevation head ℎ𝑧𝑧 , pressure head ℎ𝑝𝑝 , and velocity head ℎ𝑣𝑣 .

ℎ𝑡𝑡 = ℎ𝑧𝑧 + ℎ𝑝𝑝 + ℎ𝑣𝑣

However, the velocity head term is often neglected in soil mechanics

problems because its value is substantially smaller than the other two
contributions to total head. Accordingly, we can write
𝑢𝑢
ℎ𝑡𝑡 = ℎ𝑧𝑧 + ℎ𝑝𝑝 = 𝑧𝑧 +
𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤

where z is elevation, u is the porewater pressure, and 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 is the unit weight of
water. Then, the following table is prepared. The total heads are highlighted in the
blue column, while the pressure heads appear in the red column.

Point h z (mm) ht (mm) hp = ht - hz (mm)

A 50 280 230
B 75 280 - 80/3 = 253.3 178.3
C 100 253.3 - 80/3 = 226.6 126.6
D 125 226.6 - 80/3 = 200 75

Since the points are evenly spaced, it makes sense that the head loss from
A to B is one-third of the total head loss (= 80 mm). The same loss occurs from
points B to C and from C to D. The heights of water in standpipes are illustrated
below.

Clearly, the total head at point B is ℎ𝑡𝑡,𝐵𝐵 = 253.3 ≠ 235.5 mm, which implies
that statement B is incorrect.

► The false statement is B.

Part B: The flow rate in the specimen can be determined with Darcy’s law,

𝑞𝑞 = 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

where the hydraulic conductivity k = 3.4 × 10−4 cm/s, the hydraulic gradient i = Δℎ/L
= 8/18 = 0.44, and the cross-sectional area A = 𝜋𝜋 × 62 /4 = 28.3 cm2. Thus,

𝑞𝑞 = (3.4 × 10−4 ) × 0.44 × 28.3 = 4.23 × 10−4 cm3 /𝑠𝑠

► The correct answer is B.

P.2 ■ Solution
The hydraulic gradient within the length L is a dimensionless parameter
defined as the rate of change in total head (or head loss), Δℎ, over the length, L,

Δℎ
𝑖𝑖 =
𝐿𝐿
Assuming that the flow obeys Darcy’s law, we have 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, where v is the
flow velocity and k is the coefficient of permeability of the material. The quantity of
water that flows in a unit time through an area A is

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 𝑄𝑄 Δℎ
𝑞𝑞 = = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴
𝑡𝑡 𝐿𝐿
This equation can be easily solved for the hydraulic conductivity,

𝑄𝑄𝑄𝑄 (540 × 10−6 ) × (150 × 10−3 )

𝑘𝑘 = =
Δℎ × 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 (360 × 10−3 ) × ��1002 × 𝜋𝜋� � × 10−6 � × (1 × 60)
4

∴ 𝑘𝑘 = 4.8 × 10−4 m/s

► The correct answer is D.

P.3 ■ Solution
Part A: The head in the vertical capillary tube is equal to ℎ1 . The valve on
the tube is opened and the time t required for the head to fall to ℎ2 is recorded.
The coefficient of permeability is then obtained from the relation

𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ℎ1
𝑘𝑘 = 2.303 log
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 ℎ2

where a is the internal sectional area of the capillary tube, A is the cross-sectional
area of the soil, and L is the length of the sample. Substituting the pertaining
variables gives

20.02 𝜋𝜋
� � × 1000.0 × 10−3 800
4
𝑘𝑘 = 2.303 log � � = 3.2 × 10−6 m⁄s
100.02 𝜋𝜋 600
� � × 60 × 60
4

∴ 𝑘𝑘 = 3.2 × 10−4 𝑐𝑐m/s

► The correct answer is C.

Part B: To include the effect of temperature, the following equation may

be used,

𝜂𝜂𝜃𝜃
𝑘𝑘20 = 𝑘𝑘𝜃𝜃
𝜂𝜂20

where 𝜃𝜃 is an arbitrary temperature; in this case, 𝜃𝜃 = 30oC. Thus,

𝜂𝜂30 0.801 × 10−3

𝑘𝑘20 = 𝑘𝑘30 = 3.19 × 10−4 � � = 2.5 × 10−4 cm⁄s
𝜂𝜂20 1.005 × 10−3

► The correct answer is B.

P.4 ■ Solution
The hydraulic conductivity as obtained from the falling-head permeability
test is

𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ℎ1
𝑘𝑘 = 2.303 log10 � �
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 ℎ2

Let us designate 2.303(𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎⁄𝐴𝐴) as a constant C,

𝐶𝐶 ℎ1
𝑘𝑘 = log10 � �
𝑡𝑡 ℎ2

Substituting ℎ1 = 50 cm, ℎ2 = 48 cm, and t = 5×60 = 300 s gives

𝑘𝑘 1 50
= log10 � �
𝐶𝐶 300 48
When ℎ1 = 50 cm, we have ℎ2 = 25 cm. Thus,

𝑘𝑘 1 50 1 50
= log10 � � = log10 � �
𝐶𝐶 300 48 𝑡𝑡 25
log10(50⁄25 )
∴ 𝑡𝑡 = 300 × = 5094 s = 85 min
log10(50⁄48 )

► The correct answer is C.

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 P.5 ■ Solution
We have k = 10 × 10−4 = 10−3 cm/s, ℎ1 = 24 cm, ℎ2 = 12 cm, t = 180 s.
Substituting these and other given data into the relation for the variable head test
gives

𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 ℎ1
𝑘𝑘 = 2.303 log10 � �
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 ℎ2
𝑎𝑎 × 10 24
∴ 10−3 = 2.303 log10 � �
(𝜋𝜋 × 4 ) × 180
2 12

10−3 × (𝜋𝜋 × 42 ) × 180

∴ 𝑎𝑎 = = 1.305 cm2
2.303 × 10 × log10(24⁄12)

The diameter of the standpipe is d cm; that is,

1
𝜋𝜋𝑑𝑑 2 4 × 1.305 2
1.305 = → 𝑑𝑑 = � � = 13 mm
4 𝜋𝜋
The standpipe should have a diameter of 13 mm so as to have the head of
the standpipe fall the specified amount in the specified time.

► The correct answer is B.

P.6 ■ Solution
Part A: The processed data are shown in the table below.

Time t since start of test (s) 0 40 100 190 330 600

h 1 /h 1.000 1.176 1.429 1.818 2.500 4.000
ln(h 1/h ) 0 0.163 0.357 0.598 0.916 1.386

The plot we are looking for is one of ln(ℎ1 /ℎ), the blue row in the table
above, where ℎ1 = 1 m is the initial height of the sample, versus time t, the red row.
Such a plot is shown in continuation.

The graph is curved, indicating a reduction in overall vertical permeability

as the test progresses. Physically, this might be due to the migration of silt
particles in the sand.

Part B: Recall that the following relation applies to the falling head
permeability test,

ℎ1 𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴1
ln � � = 𝑡𝑡
ℎ 𝐴𝐴2 𝐿𝐿

This implies that the graph of ln(ℎ1 /ℎ) versus time has slope

𝑑𝑑(𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 ℎ1 ⁄ℎ ) 𝑘𝑘𝐴𝐴1
𝑆𝑆 = =
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝐴𝐴2 𝐿𝐿

which can be rearranged to give

𝐴𝐴2 𝐿𝐿
𝑘𝑘 = 𝑆𝑆
𝐴𝐴1

From the graph, the initial slope is S = 0.5/116 = 4.31 × 10−3 s-1, as shown.

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 Substituting 𝐴𝐴1 = 8000 mm2, 𝐴𝐴2 = 10 mm2, and L = 200 mm, we compute
the factor

𝐴𝐴2 𝐿𝐿 10 × 200
= = 0.25 mm = 0.25 × 10−3 m
𝐴𝐴1 8000

Thus, the initial hydraulic conductivity is

𝐴𝐴2 𝐿𝐿
𝑘𝑘𝑖𝑖 = 𝑆𝑆 = (0.25 × 10−3 ) × (4.31 × 10−3 ) = 1.1 × 10−6 m/s
𝐴𝐴1

In a similar manner, the final slope is S = 0.12/100 = 1.2 × 10−3 s-1, so that

𝑘𝑘𝑓𝑓 = (0.25 × 10−3 ) × (1.2 × 10−3 ) = 3.0 × 10−7 m/s

► The correct answer is A.

P.7 ■ Solution
The coefficient of permeability k in an unconfined aquifer such as the
present one is given by

𝑞𝑞 ln(𝑟𝑟2 ⁄𝑟𝑟1 )
𝑘𝑘 =
𝜋𝜋(ℎ22 − ℎ12 )

Here, q is the flow rate, 𝑟𝑟1 and 𝑟𝑟2 are distances from the pumped well, and
ℎ1 and ℎ2 are the depths of the boreholes. Converting the flow rate q and
substituting the remaining variables, we obtain

gal
1.85 min 100
� � ft/sec × ln � �
7.48 ft × 60 sec 50
𝑘𝑘 = = 1.12 × 10−5 ft⁄s
𝜋𝜋(152 − 122 )

► The correct answer is A.

P.8 ■ Solution
The hydraulic conductivity k in an unconfined aquifer such as the present
one is given by

𝑞𝑞 ln(𝑟𝑟2 ⁄𝑟𝑟1 )
𝑘𝑘 =
𝜋𝜋𝜋𝜋(ℎ2 − ℎ1 )
where, in addition to the variables indicated in the previous problem, we also have
the thickness of the aquifer H = 12 ft. Substituting the pertaining quantities brings
to

205 gal⁄min 150

� � ft/sec × ln � �
7.48 ft × 60 sec 75
𝑘𝑘 = = 1.05 × 10−3 ft/s
2𝜋𝜋 × 12 × (20 − 16)

► The correct answer is B.

P.9 ■ Solution
From the geometry of the terrain, we see that the hydraulic gradient, i, is
such that

Head loss 𝑆𝑆 tan 𝛼𝛼

𝑖𝑖 = = = sin 𝛼𝛼
Length 𝑆𝑆
�cos 𝛼𝛼 �

The flow rate, in turn, is given by

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 𝑞𝑞 = 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 = 𝑘𝑘(sin 𝛼𝛼) (3 cos 𝛼𝛼 × 1)

∴ 𝑞𝑞 = 3𝑘𝑘 sin 𝛼𝛼 cos 𝛼𝛼 = 3 × 4.5 × 10−5 × sin 10o × cos 10o = 2.31 × 10−5 m3/s

To change this amount to m3/hr, we multiply it by 3600, giving

𝑞𝑞 = 2.308 × 10−5 × 3600 = 0.083 m3 /h/m

► The correct answer is D.

P.10 ■ Solution
The data we were given are summarized below.

𝑘𝑘1 = 8 × 10−4 cm/s ℎ1 = 7 m

𝑘𝑘2 = 52 × 10−4 cm/s ℎ2 = 3 m

𝑘𝑘3 = 6 × 10−4 cm/s ℎ3 = 10 m

The total thickness of the soil layer is H = 20 m. The effective permeability

in the horizontal direction, 𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 , is given by the general expression

𝑘𝑘1 ℎ1 + 𝑘𝑘2 ℎ2 + 𝑘𝑘3 ℎ3 (8 × 10−4 × 7) + (52 × 10−4 × 3) + (6 × 10−4 × 10)

𝑘𝑘𝑥𝑥 = =
ℎ1 + ℎ2 + ℎ3 7 + 3 + 10
−4
= 0.00136 = 13.6 × 10 cm/s

The effective permeability in the vertical direction, 𝑘𝑘𝑧𝑧 , in turn, can be

determined with the general relation

𝐻𝐻 20
𝑘𝑘𝑧𝑧 = = = 7.7 × 10−4 cm/s
ℎ1 ℎ2 ℎ3 7 3 10
+ + + +
𝑘𝑘1 𝑘𝑘2 𝑘𝑘3 8 × 10−4 52 × 10−4 6 × 10−4

► The correct answer is B.

P.11 ■ Solution
We begin by determining the equivalent coefficient of permeability in the
vertical direction, which is such that

𝑘𝑘1 𝐻𝐻1 + 𝑘𝑘2 𝐻𝐻2 + 𝑘𝑘3 𝐻𝐻3

𝑘𝑘𝑦𝑦 =
𝐻𝐻1 + 𝐻𝐻2 + 𝐻𝐻3
2.6 × 10−7 × (6 × 30.48) + 3.2 × 10−7 × (4 × 30.48) + 2.3 × 10−7 × (10 × 30.48)
∴ 𝑘𝑘𝑦𝑦 =
(6 × 30.48) + (4 × 30.48) + (10 × 30.48)

∴ 𝑘𝑘𝑦𝑦 = 2.57 × 10−7 cm/s

or, equivalently,

𝑘𝑘𝑦𝑦 = 2.57 × 10−9 m/s

The water loss from the reservoir in one year follows from Darcy’s law,

𝑞𝑞 = 𝑘𝑘𝑦𝑦 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖

where i is the hydraulic gradient and A is the area of the reservoir. The former is
given by

Δℎ
𝑖𝑖 =
𝐻𝐻1 + 𝐻𝐻2 + 𝐻𝐻3

in which Δℎ = 70 × 0.305 = 21.35 m is the difference in elevation head. Substituting

the appropriate variables in the equation for flow rate, we obtain

21.35
𝑞𝑞 = (2.57 × 10−9 ) × � � × (35,000 × 0.0929)
6 × 0.305 + 4 × 0.305 + 10 × 0.305
∴ 𝑞𝑞 = 2.92 × 10−5 m3 /s

Since 1 year = 3.15 × 107 s, the water loss V of the reservoir in one year is
determined to be

𝑉𝑉 = (2.92 × 10−5 ) × (3.15 × 107 ) = 920 m3

► The correct answer is D.

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© 2019 Montogue Quiz
P.12 ■ Solution
The hydraulic conductivity of sandy soils can be determined with fair
accuracy with the Kozeny-Carman equation,

1 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 𝑒𝑒 3
𝑘𝑘 = × ×
𝐶𝐶𝑠𝑠 𝑆𝑆𝑠𝑠2 𝑇𝑇 2 𝜂𝜂 1 + 𝑒𝑒

which implies that the permeability follows the proportion 𝑘𝑘 ∝ 𝑒𝑒 3 ⁄(1 + 𝑒𝑒).
Therefore, if a soil changes its void ratio from 𝑒𝑒1 to 𝑒𝑒2 , the corresponding ratio of
hydraulic conductivities, 𝑘𝑘1 ⁄𝑘𝑘2, will be

𝑒𝑒13
𝑘𝑘1 1 + 𝑒𝑒1
=
𝑘𝑘2 𝑒𝑒23
1 + 𝑒𝑒2

Substituting 𝑘𝑘1 = 0.03 cm/s, 𝑒𝑒1 = 0.48, and 𝑒𝑒2 = 0.64, we can determine the
new hydraulic conductivity 𝑘𝑘2 ,

0.483
0.03 1 + 0.48
= → 𝑘𝑘2 = 0.064 cm⁄s
𝑘𝑘2 0.643
1 + 0.64
One can intuitively see that larger void ratios have higher void volumes,
and hence a larger permeability. As expected, increasing the void ratio will cause
the hydraulic conductivity to increase accordingly.

► The correct answer is A.

P.13 ■ Solution
Part A: To determine the critical hydraulic gradient, all we have to do is
appeal to the relation

𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 − 1
𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 =
1 + 𝑒𝑒
Substituting Gs = 2.65 and e = 0.50 gives

2.65 − 1
𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 = = 1.1
1 + 0.5
► The correct answer is B.

Part B: Before determining the critical hydraulic gradient, we require the

void ratio of the soil, which follows as

𝑛𝑛 0.35
𝑒𝑒 = = = 0.54
1 − 𝑛𝑛 1 − 0.35
The critical hydraulic gradient is then

𝐺𝐺𝑠𝑠 − 1 2.65 − 1
𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 = = = 1.07
1 + 𝑒𝑒 1 + 0.54
With a factor of safety of 2.0 against piping, the corresponding hydraulic
gradient is calculated as

𝑖𝑖𝑐𝑐 1.07
𝑖𝑖 = = = 0.535
2 2
However, i = h/L, where h = 1.85 m is the upward seepage head and L is
the depth of soil. Solving for L, the result is

1.85 1.85
𝑖𝑖 = 0.535 = → 𝐿𝐿 = = 3.46 m
𝐿𝐿 0.535
Deducting the available flow path of 1.25 m (= the thickness of the
underlying soil), the depth of coarse sand required is

𝐻𝐻 = 3.46 − 1.25 = 2.21 m

► The correct answer is C.

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© 2019 Montogue Quiz
P.14 ■ Solution
The equivalent permeability is taken as the geometric mean of horizontal
and vertical permeabilities, i.e.,

𝑘𝑘𝑒𝑒 = �𝑘𝑘ℎ 𝑘𝑘𝑣𝑣 = �(3 × 10−2 ) × (1 × 10−2 ) = 1.73 × 10−2 mm/s

or, equivalently, ke = 1.73 × 10−5 m/s. The seepage loss per meter length of the
dam is computed with the formula

𝑁𝑁𝑓𝑓
𝑞𝑞 = 𝑘𝑘𝑒𝑒 𝐻𝐻
𝑁𝑁𝑑𝑑

where H is the level of the full reservoir, Nf is the number of flow channels, and Nd
is the number of head drops. Substituting the pertaining variables yields

4
𝑞𝑞 = (1.73 × 10−5 ) × 30 × = 1.3 × 10−4 m3⁄s
16
∴ 𝑄𝑄 = 130 mL/s

► The correct answer is A.

► ANSWER SUMMARY
1A B
Problem 1
1B B
Problem 2 D
3A C
Problem 3
3B B
Problem 4 C
Problem 5 B
6A Open-ended pb.
Problem 6
6B A
Problem 7 A
Problem 8 B
Problem 9 D
Problem 10 B
Problem 11 D
Problem 12 A
13A B
Problem 13
13B C
Problem 14 A

► REFERENCES
 DAS, B. and SOBHAN, K. (2014). Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. 8th
edition. Stamford: Cengage Learning.
 ISHIBASHI, I. and HAZARIKA, H. (2010). Soil Mechanics Fundamentals.
Boca Raton: CRC Press.
 LIU, C. and EVETT, J. (2008). Soils and Foundations. 7th edition. Upper
Saddle River: Pearson.
 MURTHY, V. (2002). Geotechnical Engineering. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
 POWRIE, W. (2004). Soil Mechanics: Concepts and Applications. 2nd edition.
London: Spon Press.
 VENKATRAMAIAH, C. (2006). Geotechnical Engineering. 3rd edition. New
Delhi: New Age Publishers.

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