ISSN: 1945-7545
Published Online: 30 March 2005
Page Count: 6

Sealed Double-Ring Infiltrometers for Estimating Very Low Hydraulic Conductivities

Neupane, D
Graduate Research Assistant, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia,MO

Bowders, JJ
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia,MO

Loehr, JE
Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia,MO

Bouazza, A
Associate Professor, Monash University, Vic,

Trautwein, SJ
President, Trautwein Soil Testing Company, Houston,TX

(Received 8 December 2003; accepted 1 September 2004)

Abstract

Sealed, Double-Ring Infiltrometers (SDRIs) are one of the preferred devices to measure infiltration rates of soil liners in the field. Existing SDRIs are well suited for measuring infiltration rates on materials with hydraulic conductivities on the order of 1 × 10⁻⁹ m/s. A very low hydraulic conductivity material (<1 × 10⁻¹⁰ m/s), such as low-k asphalt concrete, requires some modifications to the existing SDRI designs. A Constant Head Board (CHB) was designed and employed to replace the commonly used flexible bag to accomplish measurement of very small flow increments. Flow increments as low as 0.05 mL can be effectively measured with this technique enabling field hydraulic conductivities as low as 1 × 10⁻¹¹ m/s and possibly lower to be estimated in a matter of a day or two. The CHB is reliable, follows existing methods, and can account for the effects of temperature and barometric pressure changes on the flow rate.

Keywords:
sealed double-ring infiltrometers, infiltration rate, hydraulic conductivity, flexible bag, constant head board, low-k asphalt concrete barrier, asphalt impregnated geotextile

Paper ID: GTJ12447
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ12447
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