Permeability
The permeability of soil refers to the movement of water within soil. The coefficent of
permeability is used in calculating the flow of water through soil. As shown in Darcy's Law:
Q = k * (h3 - h4) * A / L
where
- Q = rate of flow
- k = a constant, now known as Darcy's coefficent of permeability
- h3 = the height above datum which the water rose in a standpipe inserted at the
entrance end of the filter bed
- h4 = the height above datum which the water rose in a standpipe inserted at the exit
end of the filter bed
- L = the length of sample
- A = the total inside cross-sectional area of the sample container
Typical values for for the coefficent of permeability for clay are on the order of
10E-8 m/s.
To return to the main page click here
.