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An instantaneous profile method for determining the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated porous materials
Author(s) -
Watson K. K.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr002i004p00709
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , porosity , porous medium , darcy's law , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , conductivity , materials science , geotechnical engineering , soil science , geology , soil water , physics , quantum mechanics
The hydraulic conductivity‐water content relationship, as used in the differential equation describing unsteady flow in unsaturated porous materials, is determined from measurements obtained during the drainage of an initially saturated sand column. The approach utilizes instantaneous profiles of the macroscopic flow velocity, the potential gradient, and the water content. The derived relationship exhibits a direct proportionality between the instantaneous velocity and the corresponding potential gradient, thus lending strong support to the contention that Darcy's Law is applicable to flow in unsaturated porous materials of the size range considered in this study.