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Permeability Testing

Fully Automated Permeability Test System

The LoadTrac II and three FlowTrac flow pumps (cell, sample, and flow control) system provides a unique and versatile way to run permeability tests on a wide variety of materials quickly and accurately. The system automates the initialization, saturation, consolidation (isotropic, anisotropic, and Ko), and flow phase by adjusting the gradient or the flow rate across the sample.

The system can measure permeabilities varying from 10-4 cm/sec to 10-9 cm/sec. With the appropriate test cells, this one system can determine the permeability of silts and clays within minutes.

Triaxial and stress path testing can easily be performed with added software because the hardware and accessory configuration is ready.

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Description

The permeability test spans multiple standards, soil or rock types and alternate methods or hydraulic systems for the measurement of hydraulic conductivity of water-saturated porous materials. Water is used as the standard permeant liquid, but other liquids (such as chemical wastes) can be employed. The common methods used are: Constant Head, Falling Head (constant tailwater), Falling Head (rising tailwater), Constant Rate of Flow, Constant Volume-Constant Head and Constant Volume-Falling Head (rising tailwater). The hydraulic conductivity generally decreases with increasing amount of air in the pores, and it will also vary with changing void ratio. The test is repeated at different effective stresses when the relationship between hydraulic conductivity and void ratio needs to be determined.
Lab Photo

Frequently Asked Questions

The LoadTrac II is a versatile load frame that can easily be upgraded to perform additional test types by purchasing required software and accessories.  Incremental Consolidation, Swell, Unconfined Compression, and California Bearing Ratio are popular tests performed on the load frame alone. Constant Rate Consolidation is an option with the addition of one FlowTrac pressure & volume control flow pump. Triaxial (UU, CU, CD) and Stress Path testing is possible with one to two FlowTrac flow pumps. For those interested in cyclic/dynamic testing, addition of a Cyclic/RM controller and hardware allows for Resilient Modulus testing, and then combined with a FlowTrac allows for Cyclic Triaxial testing. Contact one of our sales team today to discuss all available configurations and options.