On the Non-Linearity and Anisotropy of Seepage Flow in Compacted Soils

Abstract

10 soil samples included coarse sand, fine sand, sandy silt, and silty clay were recompacted in cylindrical and cubic molds for 1 and 2-directions falling-head permeability test respectively. The results represent that even though unsaturated condition in compacted soils caused the seepage flow to be non-linear, Darcy's law could be applied approximately. Deviation from Darcy's law becomes enormous only if hydraulic gradient is less than 1. Ratio of horizontal discharge flux to vertical discharge flux is roughly constant when hydraulic gradient is greater than 1. The smaller the hydraulic gradient is, the more the ratio varies. Method of compaction hardly affected flow behavior in coarse sand. According to 2-directions test results, anisotropy affected the soils which is finer than coarse sand.