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Some Theoretical Aspects of the Flow of Water in Unsaturated Soils
Author(s) -
Klute A.
Publication year - 1952
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1952.03615995001600020008x
Subject(s) - permeability (electromagnetism) , water content , richards equation , darcy's law , soil water , capillary action , wetting , moisture , darcy–weisbach equation , porous medium , function (biology) , flow (mathematics) , mathematics , soil science , mechanics , geotechnical engineering , thermodynamics , environmental science , chemistry , geology , porosity , physics , geometry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , evolutionary biology , membrane , biology
Abstract The validity of Darcy's law in unsaturated media and the assumptions made in its use are discussed. The relationship of the permeability coefficient in Darcy's law to various soil parameters is briefly considered, the total soil moisture potential is defined, and its components discussed. By use of the equation of continuity and Darcy's law, an equation of flow is derived, and the general problem of obtaining solutions of this equation is outlined. The special mathematical difficulties encountered when the permeability is considered as a function of the moisture content or the capillary potential are also indicated. A numerical solution of the flow equation for a semi‐infinite system is given, using a functional relationship between the permeability and the moisture content, and the phenomenon of a wetting front is shown to be indicated.