Compressibility and permeability data for kaolin: a comparison between 1-dimensional oedometers and a high-stress permeameter

To validate measurement results obtained using a custom-built, high-stress permeameter (HSP), consolidation experiments were carried out on kaolin (“Peerless 2” from Vanderbilt Minerals) using both the HSP and industry standard fixed-ring oedometers.  From these consolidation tests, the compression index, C_c, and recompression index, C_r, were obtained. Additionally, permeability measurements were made during the consolidation tests to obtain the porosity-dependent permeability for kaolin.  In the HSP, permeability was measured by directly flowing water through the kaolin while measuring the flow rate and pressure gradient.  In the oedometers, Terzaghi’s log-time theory was used to estimate permeability.

Along with consolidation and permeability data, this data release includes data and calculations used to establish the specimen height in the HSP, and example calculations are provided for the HSP- and oedometer-based permeability calculations. These calculations include the permeability corrections required to account for permeability contributions from the porous stones that cap each sample in each device.

The data release consists of a tabbed spreadsheet, “HighStressPermeameter_HSP_ComparisonWithOedometers.xlsx.”  The first “Overview” tab summarizes, and links to, the subsequent tabs. The tabs for “Consolidation,” “Permeability” and “Grain Size” contain measured data in tabular and plotted formats.  These data are in support of the HSP device description paper (Garcia and Waite, 2025), and demonstrate the equivalence of the HSP and industry-standard oedometers for obtaining compression and permeability data on soil specimens.  The remaining tabs, “HSP Specimen Height Example,” Direct Permeability Example” and “Log Time Permeability Example” provide example calculations and templates used to process data for the HSP and oedometer systems.

Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected.  Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.  Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Reference:

Garcia, A.V., and W.F. Waite (2025), Design and functionality analysis of the High-Stress Permeameter (HSP), a device developed for measuring mechanical and hydraulic properties of gas hydrate-bearing pressure core, Geotechnical Testing Journal, doi: https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20250043.