Introduction
The permeability of a soil is a measure of the ability of soil to allow water to pass through it. It is typically represented by the letter ‘k’ and is measured as the volume of water (m3) that can pass through an area (m2) per second (m3/ m2/s, or more simply m/s).
Factors Affecting Soil Permeability
The permeability of a soil is related most closely to its porosity (i.e. the gaps between the soil particles) but the shape of the pores and how they are (or are not) connected to one another also influences permeability. In natural soils, soil layering can also have a significant influence. As layers of soil are built up over time by various geological processes it is common for stratified soils (soils deposited in layers) to have much higher permeability in the horizontal direction than vertically, sometimes by a factor 10 or more. This means that water may flow horizontally through soil faster than it flows vertically.
Figure 1: Stratified Soil
Measuring Soil Permeability
Soil permeability can be measured in the laboratory using the methods described in Chapter 5 of BS 1377-5:1990, or BS 1377-6:1990. On site the method of testing is essentially to fill a hole with water and time how long it takes to drain away using methods defined in BS 5930:2015, BRE DG 365, or NHBC: Chapter 5.3\
For soils placed and compacted on site, such as roading gravel or low permeability clay at the base of a pond, the lab tests are usually the most practical option.
When measuring the permeability of soil on site, the test should be conducted in-situ as samples taken from site to the lab may become disturbed and behave differently.
Figure 2: Soil Permeability Testing in accordance with BS 1377-5:1990
Typical Soil Permeabilities
As soils are so varied, it is very difficult to give precise values for the permeability of a given soil without undertaking site specific tests. In the absence of site specific tests, ABG typically uses the Handbook of Geotechnical Investigation & Design Tables (Look, 2007). This information has been combined into Table 1, below, which includes equivalent rainfall rates to allow a better understanding of the sort of water flow rates that the various values of permeability correspond to.
Table 1: Typical Permeabilities of Soils
References
British Standards Institution, BS 1377-5:1990 – Methods of test for soils for civil engineering purposes. Compressibility, permeability and durability tests
British Standards Institution, BS 1377-6:1990 – Methods of test for soils for civil engineering purposes. Consolidation and permeability tests in hydraulic cells and with pore pressure measurement
British Standards Institution, BS 5930:2015 – Code of practice for ground investigations
Building Research Establishment. Soakaway Design. BRE DG 365. Bracknell, IHS BRE Press, 2016
Look, B. (2007). Handbook of geotechnical investigation and design tables. London: Taylor & Francis.
National House Building Council. Drainage Below Ground. NHBC Chapter 5.3. 2020