ASTM D5084-03

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Designation: D5084 – 03
Standard Test Methods for
Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Saturated Porous
1
Materials Using a Flexible Wall Permeameter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5084; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 1.3.2 If the hydraulic conductivity is less than about
−11
1 310 m/s, then standard hydraulic systems and tempera-
1.1 Thesetestmethodscoverlaboratorymeasurementofthe
tureenvironmentswilltypicallynotsuffice.Strategiesthatmay
hydraulic conductivity (also referred to as coeffıcient of per-
be possible when dealing with such impervious materials may
meability) of water-saturated porous materials with a flexible
include the following: (a) controlling the temperature more
wall permeameter at temperatures between about 15 and 30°C
precisely, (b) adoption of unsteady state measurements by
(59 and 86°F). Temperatures outside this range may be used;
using high-accuracy equipment along with the rigorous analy-
however, the user would have to determine the specific gravity
ses for determining the hydraulic parameters (this approach
of mercury and R (see 10.3) at those temperatures using data
T
2
reducestestingdurationaccordingtoZhangetal.(1) ),and (c)
from Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. There are six
shortening the length or enlarging the cross-sectional area, or
alternate methods or hydraulic systems that may be used to
both, of the test specimen. Other items, such as use of higher
measure the hydraulic conductivity. These hydraulic systems
hydraulic gradients, lower viscosity fluid, elimination of any
are as follows:
possible chemical gradients and bacterial growth, and strict
1.1.1 Method A—Constant Head
verification of leakage, may also be considered.
1.1.2 Method B—Falling Head, constant tailwater elevation
1.4 The hydraulic conductivity of materials with hydraulic
1.1.3 Method C—Falling Head, rising tailwater elevation
−5
conductivitiesgreaterthan1 310 m/smaybedeterminedby
1.1.4 Method D—Constant Rate of Flow
Test Method D2434.
1.1.5 Method E—Constant Volume–Constant Head (by
1.5 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
mercury)
guideforsignificantdigitsandroundingestablishedinPractice
1.1.6 Method F—Constant Volume–Falling Head (by mer-
D6026.
cury), rising tailwater elevation
1.5.1 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected,
1.2 Thesetestmethodsusewaterasthepermeantliquid;see
recorded, and calculated in this standard are regarded as the
4.3 and Section 6 on Reagents for water requirements.
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
1.3 These test methods may be utilized on all specimen
significant digits that should generally be retained. The proce-
types (undisturbed, reconstituted, remolded, compacted, etc.)
−6
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
thathaveahydraulicconductivitylessthanabout1 310 m/s
−4
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
(1 310 cm/s), providing the head loss requirements of 5.2.3
ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
are met. For the constant-volume methods, the hydraulic
−7
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
conductivity typically has to be less than about 1 310 m/s.
commensuratewiththeseconsiderations.Itisbeyondthescope
1.3.1 If the hydraulic conductivity is greater than about
−6 −5
of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis
1 310 m/s, but not more than about 1 310 m/s; then the
methods for engineering design.
size of the hydraulic tubing needs to be increased along with
1.6 This standard also contains a Hazards section about
the porosity of the porous end pieces. Other strategies, such as
using mercury, see Section 7.
using higher viscosity fluid or properly decreasing the cross-
1.7 The time to perform this test depends on such items as
sectional area of the test specimen, or both, may also be
the Method (A, B, C, D, E, or F) used, the initial degree of
possible. The key criterion is that the requirements covered in
saturation of the test specimen and the hydraulic conductivity
Section 5 have to be met.
of the test specimen. The constant volume Methods (E and F)
and Method D require the shortest period-of-time. Typically a
test can be performed using Methods D, E, or F within two to
1
This standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
three days. MethodsA, B, and C take a longer period-of-time,
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.04 on Hydrologic
Properties of Soil and Rocks.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2003. Publis
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