Laboratory Investigation of Permeability Ratio of New Liskeard Varved Soil

Abstract

The results are reported of a laboratory testing program to determine the permeability ratio, rK, (ratio of coefficients of permeability for flow parallel to and perpendicular to the soil layers) of samples of New Liskeard varved soil. The maximum value of rK is less than 5, which is perhaps significantly smaller than values usually assumed for varved soils. To explain these results, tests were conducted to determine the permeability characteristics of the constituent soils of the varves. Information is given concerning the test methods, the determination of the influence on permeability of soil disturbance at the cut surfaces, and the finding that this soil behaved according to Darcy's law at small values of hydraulic gradient.