Surface permeability tests: experiments and modelling for estimating effective permeability

Abstract

This paper presents a technique for determining the near surface permeability of geomaterials and involves the application of a uniform flow rate to an open central region of a sealed annular patch on an otherwise unsealed flat surface. Darcy’s flow is established during attainment of a steady pressure at a constant flow rate. This paper describes the experimental configuration and its theoretical analysis via mathematical and computational techniques. The methods are applied to investigate the surface permeability characteristics of a cuboidal block of Indiana limestone measuring 508 mm. An inverse analysis procedure is used to estimate the permeability characteristics at the interior of the Indiana limestone block. The resulting spatial distribution of permeability is used to estimate the effective permeability of the tested block.