Study on the Estimation Methods for Infiltration Capacity of Field Soils Based on the Falling Head Tests Using Borehole

Abstract

This paper discussed the estimation methods for saturated hydraulic conductivities (ko) of soils under various initial conditions, using borehole falling head tests (FHT). Parameters relating to soil properties were determined by soil tests and preliminary analyses. In addition, an empirical formula specifying the initial condition of the surface soil layer was introduced on the basis of the field data observed by tensiometers. As a result, ko values evaluated from FHT carried out for the dry soils are in good agreement with the values obtained by constant head tests.