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IS 11209:1985 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for mould assembly for determination of permeability of soils. This standard specifies the material, dimensional, and constructional requirements for the mould assembly used in laboratories for determining the coefficient of permeability of soils. It ensures uniformity and accuracy of the apparatus used in conjunction with the test method outlined in IS 2720 (Part 17).
mould assembly for determination of permeability of soils
Standard Test Method for Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Porous Material Using a Rigid-Wall, Compaction-Mold Permeameter
Specifies using a standard compaction mould as a permeameter, which is the core principle of IS 11209.
ISO 17892-11:2019ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
HighCurrent
Geotechnical investigation and testing — Laboratory testing of soil — Part 11: Permeability tests
Provides comprehensive requirements for apparatus, including rigid-wall permeameters, for permeability testing.
BS EN ISO 17892-11:2019BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
HighCurrent
Geotechnical investigation and testing. Laboratory testing of soil. Permeability tests
The British and European adoption of the ISO standard, covering the same apparatus for permeability tests.
BS 1377-5:1990BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
MediumWithdrawn
Methods of test for soils for civil engineering purposes. Compressibility, permeability and durability tests
Describes apparatus for constant and falling head permeability tests, allowing use of compaction moulds.
Key Differences
≠IS 11209 is a dedicated specification for the mould assembly itself, providing prescriptive dimensions. In contrast, international standards like ASTM D5856 and ISO 17892-11 are test method standards that describe the apparatus functionally, allowing for a range of sizes.
≠The standard Indian mould has a nominal internal diameter of 100 mm and height of 127.3 mm (1000 cm³ volume), whereas the commonly referenced ASTM D698 mould has a 101.6 mm diameter and 116.4 mm height (944 cm³ volume).
≠IS 11209 exclusively covers rigid-wall mould assemblies. Modern international standards like ISO 17892-11 also specify requirements for flexible-wall permeameters (triaxial cells), which are preferred for low-permeability soils to mitigate sidewall leakage.
≠International standards provide more detailed guidance on the selection of permeameter size based on the soil's maximum particle size (e.g., mould diameter should be >6 times the maximum particle size), a criterion not explicitly detailed in IS 11209.
Key Similarities
≈All standards are based on the same fundamental principle of using a rigid-wall cylindrical mould to contain a soil specimen for determining its coefficient of permeability.
≈The essential components of the assembly are consistent across all standards: a mould body, top and bottom porous plates, a base with a drainage outlet, and a top cap with a water inlet.
≈Both IS 11209 and ASTM D5856 explicitly endorse the practical approach of adapting standard soil compaction moulds for use as permeameters.
≈The apparatus specified in all standards is designed for use with both the constant head method (typically for coarse-grained soils) and the falling head method (typically for fine-grained soils).
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Standard Type
Apparatus Specification
Test Method (including apparatus requirements)
ASTM D5856 / ISO 17892-11
Mould Internal Diameter
100 mm
101.6 mm (4.0 in) for standard compaction mould
ASTM D5856 (referencing ASTM D698)
Mould Effective Height
127.3 mm
116.4 mm (4.584 in) for standard compaction mould
ASTM D5856 (referencing ASTM D698)
Nominal Specimen Volume
1000 cm³
944 cm³ (1/30 ft³)
ASTM D5856 (referencing ASTM D698)
Apparatus Scope
Rigid-wall mould only
Covers both rigid-wall and flexible-wall permeameters
ISO 17892-11:2019
Collar Height
60 mm
~60 mm (2.375 in)
ASTM D5856 (referencing ASTM D698)
Base Plate Perforation Size
Not exceeding 1.6 mm
Not specified; must be sufficiently pervious and prevent soil loss
ASTM D5856-15(2021)
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
Internal diameter of mould100.0 ± 0.1 mm
Internal effective height of mould127.3 ± 0.1 mm
Mould volume1000 ± 1 cm³
Diameter of porous discs98.5 ± 0.5 mm
Thickness of porous discs12.7 mm
Mould cylinder wall thicknessNot less than 5 mm
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Materials
Clause 4 - Dimensions and Tolerances
Figure 1 - Mould Assembly for Determination of Permeability of Soil
Frequently Asked Questions4
What is the standard volume of the permeability mould specified in IS 11209?+
The standard volume is 1000 ± 1 cm³ (Clause 4.2).
What is the internal diameter of the mould?+
The internal diameter of the mould body is specified as 100.0 ± 0.1 mm (Clause 4.2).
What materials are specified for the porous discs?+
The discs can be made of silicon carbide, aluminium oxide, or a suitable porous metal (Clause 3.2).
Which test method uses the apparatus specified in IS 11209?+
This mould assembly is designed for use with the test method for determination of permeability as described in IS 2720 (Part 17).