ASTM D6391-11
Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity Using Borehole Infiltration
- Standard No.
- ASTM D6391-11
- Release Date
- 2011
- Published By
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
- Status
- Replace By
- ASTM D6391-11(2020)
- Latest
- ASTM D6391-11(2020)
- Scope
This test method provides a means to measure the hydraulic conductivity of isotropic materials and the maximum vertical and minimum horizontal hydraulic conductivities of anisotropic materials, especially in the low ranges associated with fine-grained clayey soils, 1×10–7 m/s to 1×10–11 m/s.
This test method is useful for measuring liquid flow through soil hydraulic barriers, such as compacted clay barriers used at waste containment facilities, for canal and reservoir liners, for seepage blankets, and for amended soil liners, such as those used for retention ponds or storage tanks. Due to the boundary condition assumptions used in deriving the equations for the limiting hydraulic conductivities, the thickness of the unit tested must be at least 600 mm. This requirement is increased to 800 mm if the material being tested is underlain by a material that is far less permeable.
The soil layer being tested must have sufficient cohesion to stand open during excavation of the borehole.
This test method provides a means to measure infiltration rate into a moderately large volume of soil. Tests on large volumes of soil can be more representative than tests on small volumes of soil. Multiple installations properly spaced provide a greater volume and an indication of spatial variability.
The data obtained from this test method are most useful when the soil layer being tested has a uniform distribution of hydraulic conductivity and of pore space and when the upper and lower boundary conditions of the soil layer are well defined.
Changes in water temperature can introduce errors in the flow measurements. Temperature changes cause fluctuations in the water levels that are not related to flow. This problem is most pronounced when a small diameter standpipe or Marriotte bottle is used in soils having hydraulic conductivities of 5×10–10 m/s or less.
The effects of temperature changes and other environmental perturbations are taken into account using a temperature effect gauge (TEG), which is an identical installation with a watertight seal at the bottom of the casing.
If the soil being tested will later be subjected to increased overburden stress, then the hydraulic conductivities can be expected to decrease as the overburden stress increases. Laboratory hydraulic conductivity tests or these tests under varying surface loads are recommended to study the influence of level of stress on the hydraulic properties of the soil (8).
Note 18212;The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
1.1 This test method covers field measurement of hydraulic conductivity (also referred to as coefficient of permeability) of porous materials using a cased borehole technique. When isotropic conditions can be assumed and a flush borehole is employed, the method yields the hydraulic conduct......
ASTM D6391-11 Referenced Document
- ASTM D1452 Standard Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by Auger Borings
- ASTM D1587 Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes
- ASTM D2937 Standard Test Method for Field Determination of Soil Density by the Pushing Cylinder Method*， 2024-04-19 Update
- ASTM D3740 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
- ASTM D5084 Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a Flexible Wall Permeameter
- ASTM D5092 Standard Practice for Design and Installation of Ground Water Monitoring Wells in Aquifers
- ASTM D6026 Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
- ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
ASTM D6391-11 history
- 2020 ASTM D6391-11(2020) Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity Using Borehole Infiltration
- 2011 ASTM D6391-11 Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity Using Borehole Infiltration
- 2006 ASTM D6391-06 Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity Limits of Porous Materials Using Two Stages of Infiltration from a Borehole
- 1999 ASTM D6391-99(2004) Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity Limits of Porous Materials Using Two Stages of Infiltration from a Borehole
- 1999 ASTM D6391-99 Standard Test Method for Field Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity Limits of Porous Materials Using Two Stages of Infiltration from a Borehole
