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The Coefficient of Permeability is a measure of the ability of a porous material to allow fluids to pass through it. It is a key parameter which deals with the movement and distribution of water resources through soil and other porous media.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The coefficient of permeability represents how easily water can flow through a porous medium, calculated as the ratio of apparent seepage velocity to the hydraulic gradient driving the flow.
Details: Accurate calculation of permeability coefficient is crucial for groundwater flow analysis, foundation design, drainage systems, and environmental engineering projects involving fluid movement through porous media.
Tips: Enter apparent velocity of seepage in m/s and hydraulic gradient (dimensionless). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is the difference between apparent velocity and actual velocity?
A: Apparent velocity is the macroscopic flow velocity, while actual velocity accounts for the tortuous path through pore spaces and is typically higher.
Q2: What are typical values for coefficient of permeability?
A: Values range from 10⁻² m/s for gravel to 10⁻⁹ m/s for clay, depending on the porous material.
Q3: How does hydraulic gradient affect permeability?
A: Higher hydraulic gradients generally increase flow rates, but the coefficient of permeability itself is a material property that remains constant for a given porous medium.
Q4: What factors influence the coefficient of permeability?
A: Particle size distribution, porosity, fluid viscosity, temperature, and degree of saturation all affect permeability.
Q5: When is this calculation most applicable?
A: This calculation is most applicable for laminar flow conditions in saturated porous media, typically following Darcy's law.