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Modeling Transient Streaming Potentials in Falling‐Head Permeameter Tests
Author(s) -
Malama Bwalya,
Revil André
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/gwat.12081
Subject(s) - streaming current , permeameter , electrokinetic phenomena , hydraulic conductivity , head (geology) , hydraulic head , hydrogeology , environmental science , falling (accident) , mechanics , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , materials science , physics , geomorphology , soil water , nanotechnology , medicine , environmental health
We present transient streaming potential data collected during falling‐head permeameter tests performed on samples of two sands with different physical and chemical properties. The objective of the work is to estimate hydraulic conductivity ( K ) and the electrokinetic coupling coefficient ( C l ) of the sand samples. A semi‐empirical model based on the falling‐head permeameter flow model and electrokinetic coupling is used to analyze the streaming potential data and to estimate K and C l . The values of K estimated from head data are used to validate the streaming potential method. Estimates of K from streaming potential data closely match those obtained from the associated head data, with less than 10% deviation. The electrokinetic coupling coefficient was estimated from streaming potential vs. (1) time and (2) head data for both sands. The results indicate that, within limits of experimental error, the values of C l estimated by the two methods are essentially the same. The results of this work demonstrate that a temporal record of the streaming potential response in falling‐head permeameter tests can be used to estimate both K and C l . They further indicate the potential for using transient streaming potential data as a proxy for hydraulic head in hydrogeology applications.