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Some Tests of the Similar Media Concept of Capillary Flow: I. Reduced Capillary Conductivity and Moisture Characteristic Data
Author(s) -
Klute A.,
Wilkinson G. E.
Publication year - 1958
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/sssaj1958.03615995002200040002x
Subject(s) - capillary action , moisture , water content , particle density , fraction (chemistry) , particle size , bulk density , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , conductivity , tension (geology) , particle (ecology) , mineralogy , volume (thermodynamics) , soil science , chromatography , thermodynamics , composite material , geology , geotechnical engineering , physics , soil water , oceanography , ultimate tensile strength
Plainfield sand was dry‐sieved into the following five size fractions: 104 to 125, 125 to 149, 149 to 177, 177 to 210, and 210 to 250µ. The bulk densities of the sand fractions, when packed in a standard manner, averaged 1.65 ± 0.01 g. per cc. The particle densities of the fractions averaged 2.61 ± 0.01 g. per cc. The size distribution of each fraction was determined microscopically. The bulk density, particle density, and the reduced size‐distribution curves indicated that the sand fractions could be considered similar media. Capillary conductivity as a function of the moisture tension was determined. When the reduced conductivity was plotted against the reduced tension, the data coalesced into one curve within the limits of experimental error. Moisture characteristic curves of the sand fractions also coalesced into one curve when the reduced tension was plotted against the volume moisture content. The results of this study seem to support the similar media concept.