Permeability considerations about rock foundation on waste disposal

Abstract

Abstract The use of the traditional permeability test (the water pressure test) to analyse the permeability of rock foundations for waste disposal, is not applicable in all materials because the high pressures used in the test may produce hydraulic fracturing. This paper describes a new permeability test, called the low pressure test or LPT, which is used to obtain the true permeability of a waste disposal foundation on weak and impervious rock. Finally, the results obtained with the use of the LPT to analyse the permeability of a waste disposal foundation are described.