Hydraulic Conductivity Calculator
Calculate hydraulic conductivity using multiple methods including Kozeny-Carman, Darcy's Law, and empirical equations
Calculate Hydraulic Conductivity
Hydraulic Conductivity Results
Current Formula
K = (g/ν) × (8.3×10⁻³) × (n³/(1-n)²) × d₁₀²
Where: g = gravity, ν = kinematic viscosity, n = porosity, d₁₀ = grain diameter
Example Calculation
Kozeny-Carman Example
Soil: Sandy soil with known grain size and porosity
Porosity (n): 0.3
Grain diameter (d₁₀): 0.1 mm
Fluid: Water at 20°C (ν = 1.004 cSt)
Gravity (g): 9.81 m/s²
Calculation Steps
Step 1: Convert units: d₁₀ = 0.1 mm = 0.0001 m, ν = 1.004×10⁻⁶ m²/s
Step 2: Apply formula: K = (9.81/1.004×10⁻⁶) × (8.3×10⁻³) × (0.3³/(1-0.3)²) × (0.0001)²
Step 3: K = 9.78×10⁶ × 8.3×10⁻³ × 0.551 × 10⁻⁸
Result: K ≈ 4.47×10⁻⁴ m/s = 38.6 m/day
Calculation Methods
Kozeny-Carman
Empirical, grain size based
Most commonly used
Darcy's Law
Direct measurement
Laboratory/field data
Constant Head
Laboratory method
Steady flow conditions
Falling Head
Laboratory method
Variable head conditions
Typical Values
Gravel: 10⁻² to 1 m/s
High permeability
Sand: 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² m/s
Medium permeability
Silt: 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁵ m/s
Low permeability
Clay: 10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁹ m/s
Very low permeability
Understanding Hydraulic Conductivity
What is Hydraulic Conductivity?
Hydraulic conductivity is a measure of how easily water can move through soil and rock. It represents the velocity of groundwater flow under a unit hydraulic gradient and is fundamental in hydrology, environmental engineering, and geotechnical applications.
Key Factors
- •Grain size distribution and porosity
- •Fluid viscosity and density
- •Soil structure and pore connectivity
- •Temperature and pressure conditions
Applications
- •Groundwater flow modeling
- •Contaminant transport studies
- •Foundation design and drainage
- •Environmental remediation
- •Agricultural irrigation planning
Note: Hydraulic conductivity is different from permeability. While permeability is an intrinsic property of the soil, hydraulic conductivity also depends on fluid properties like viscosity and density.