Date of Award

Winter 2010

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Civil Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Jean Benoit

Abstract

Hydraulic conductivity is a soil characteristic that describes the flow of water through soil due to the presence of interconnected voids. This property is difficult to accurately and rapidly evaluate in the laboratory and in the field. A device known as the Permeafor has been developed in Strasbourg, France aimed at evaluating hydraulic conductivity in situ. The tool is approximately 80 centimeters in length, and is specially designed to test lateral hydraulic conductivity. A half-scale of the Permeafor was constructed at the University of New Hampshire in order to test soils at shallow depth using a portable penetration system. The half-scale model was used in laboratory simulations and field testing of a fine-grained sand for the determination of hydraulic conductivity. Preliminary results seem to indicate the reduced size tool has the potential to evaluate permeability in situ.

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