A Review of Test Methods for the Determination of the Permeability Coefficient of Gravelly Soils Used for Embankment Dams

The factors influencing the permeability coefficient of gravelly soils used for the development of embankment dams (core wall) are analyzed. Such factors include (but are not limited to) soil size, anisotropy, density and boundary effects. A review of the literature is conducted and new directions of research are proposed. In such a framework, it is shown that gravelly soil with controlled density and vertical stress should be used to optimize the measurement of the vertical and horizontal permeability coefficients, respectively.