ASTM D5084-16a PDF Download

ASTM D5084-16a standard provides procedures for measuring the hydraulic conductivity of water-saturated porous materials. The standard applies to materials such as soil and rock, where water flow occurs in a one-dimensional, laminar manner.

The standard emphasizes that the porous materials being tested should be water-saturated, with minimal presence of air in the pores. It is noted that the hydraulic conductivity of the materials typically decreases with increasing air content. While the test methods in this standard are specific to water as the permeant liquid, permeation with other liquids can be conducted using similar procedures.

Darcy's law is assumed to be valid in these test methods, and it is stated that the hydraulic conductivity is essentially unaffected by the hydraulic gradient. The standard also highlights that the hydraulic conductivity of the material can vary with changes in void ratio, which in turn can change with variations in effective stress. Therefore, if the relationship between hydraulic conductivity and void ratio needs to be determined, the test would have to be repeated at different effective stresses.

It should be noted that the correlation between the results obtained using these test methods and the hydraulic conductivities of materials in field conditions has not been fully investigated. The standard cautions that hydraulic conductivities measured on small test specimens may not necessarily be the same as larger-scale values, and the results should be applied to field situations with caution and by qualified personnel.

The standard also provides six different methods or hydraulic systems that can be used to measure the hydraulic conductivity, depending on factors such as temperature and the characteristics of the test specimen. The specific gravity of mercury and other considerations need to be taken into account when conducting the test outside the temperature range mentioned in the standard.