Flexible Wall Permeameter to Measure the Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils in Horizontal Direction

Abstract The flexible wall permeability apparatus was modified for the direct measurement of the hydraulic conductivity of soils in the horizontal direction. Constant head permeability tests were carried out using the radial flow flexible wall permeameter on soil samples with central sand drain to allow the water to flow radially from the central sand drain towards a peripheral drain. Tests were also conducted using the conventional flexible wall permeameter on samples that were trimmed horizontally, so as to measure the hydraulic conductivity in the horizontal directions for comparison. The test results obtained from the proposed setup agrees well with those obtained from the samples that were trimmed horizontally, proving the validity of the results obtained from the proposed apparatus.