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Prediction of Imbibition in a Horizontal Column
Author(s) -
MorelSeytoux H. J.,
Khanji J.
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/sssaj1975.03615995003900040015x
Subject(s) - imbibition , hydraulic conductivity , capillary action , porous medium , mechanics , geotechnical engineering , function (biology) , richards equation , porosity , water content , soil science , geology , mathematics , materials science , thermodynamics , soil water , physics , botany , germination , evolutionary biology , biology
An approximate analytical solution to the equations of water and air movement in a horizontal porous medium is presented. From the solution for the water content profile, imbibition rates can be predicted as a function of time. A comparison of predicted and experimental imbibition rates shows an excellent agreement. This result is particularly significant because no numerical integration of a differential equation is necessary to obtain the water content profiles and to obtain the imbibition rates. The method of solution requires only graphical constructions and integrations of curves simply related to the basic soil characteristics such as capillary head and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.