![]() ![]() That is why using the term hydraulic conductivity is useful, because it is clear the term relates to the flow of water. This means that a given soil or rock will behave differently if it is permeated by different fluids – for example water or hydrocarbons (oil). It is also important to realise that the way that a fluid (such as water) passes through a soil or rock mass depends not only on the properties of the soil/rock but also on the properties of the permeating fluid. This is a huge range – a factor of a billion! This is a much greater range than would be expected for most other geotechnical parameters such as shear strength or compressibility. Hydraulic conductivity is typically given the symbol k and has units of velocity, for example metres/sec or metres/day.Ī key aspect of hydraulic conductivity is that a very wide range of values exist in natural soils and rocks, perhaps a range from 10-2 m/s (for very open gravels and cobbles) to 10-11 m/s (unfissured clays or massive unfractured rock). In theoretical terms, hydraulic conductivity is a measure of how easily water can pass through soil or rock: high values indicate permeable material through which water can pass easily low values indicate that the material is less permeable. This can sometimes lead to confusion in terminology, as will be mentioned later. In geotechnical language hydraulic conductivity is often referred to as coefficient of permeability, most commonly shortened to permeability. There needs to be a point of terminology first. But to the practising groundwater engineer a more relevant issue is what does hydraulic conductivity mean in our working lives on engineering projects? That is what this blog will address. This edition of the blog addresses the question what is hydraulic conductivity? On face value this is a question that is answered in most hydrogeology or groundwater textbooks. Tuesday 8 July 2014 What is Hydraulic Conductivity?
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