Hydraulic Conductivity and Its Anisotropy of the Kanto Loam

Abstract

The Kanto Loam is a deposit of the volcanic ash, and is widely distributed in the Kanto district. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effects of tube-like macropores on hydraulic conductivities and on its anisotropy of the Kanto Loam. The permeability tester developed for this study was used to measure the anisotropy of conductivities. By using this device, it is possible to obtain the conductivities of two directions (vertical and horizontal) in one sample, simultaneously. Undisturbed soil samples for this measurements were taken at the outcrop in Kawasaki city in every 1 meters height. As a result, the following conclusions are obtaind.
1. The hydralic conductivities of the layer with many tube-like macropores is much larger than that of layer with few macropores. The magnitude of the difference is 10 times in horizontal direction and 100 times in vertical.
2. The anisotropy of the hydraulic conductivity is also much influenced by the effects of tube-like macropores. Without tube-like macropores, the ratios of Kv (vertical hydraulic conductivity) to Kh (horizontal one) range from 1.0 to 1.5, while with macropores, the ratios of Kv to Kh range from 3.0 to 20.