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Hydraulic Conductivity Calculations for Unsaturated Steady‐State and Transient‐State Flow in Sand
Author(s) -
Elzeftawy Atef,
Mansell R. S.
Publication year - 1975
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/sssaj1975.03615995003900040013x
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , pressure head , water flow , water content , soil water , suction , hydraulic head , soil science , water retention curve , steady state (chemistry) , geotechnical engineering , environmental science , materials science , geology , chemistry , thermodynamics , physics
Using a method employed by Green and Corey (1971), hydraulic conductivity was calculated as a function of water content for Lakeland fine sand. A gamma ray transmission method for measuring soil water content and a tensiometer‐pressure transducer arrangement for measuring soil water suction were also used to experimentally determine values of hydraulic conductivity for a similar range of soil water contents in undisturbed soil cores and hand‐packed soil columns. Measured and calculated values were in good agreement for steady flow. During transient flow soil water content was observed to be a non‐unique function of suction for water desorption, but depended upon the state of flow. Higher water contents were found at a given pressure head during unsteady flow than during steady flow or static equilibrium (zero flow). Graphs of water content versus soil water suction were similar for cases of steady and no‐flow conditions. For transient flow, the soil‐water pressure depended upon the soil‐water content and rate of change of pressure head with time.