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Determining the Hydraulic Conductivity of Soil Cores by Centrifugation
Author(s) -
Alemi M. H.,
Nielsen D. R.,
Biggar J. W.
Publication year - 1976
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/sssaj1976.03615995004000020010x
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , outflow , thermal diffusivity , soil science , centrifugation , conductivity , soil water , mechanics , chemistry , materials science , mathematics , thermodynamics , environmental science , chromatography , geology , physics , oceanography
Two centrifugal techniques are proposed for determining the hydraulic conductivity of cores of natural soil. Experimental results are presented for one technique in which the change in weight of one end of the sample, previously centrifuged, is measured with a balance. The mathematical equations describing this redistribution process were developed and fitted to the data to ascertain the soil water diffusivity D . The value of the hydraulic conductivity K was obtained from K = bD , where b is also calculated. Calculated values of K agreed with previously published values. The second technique for which a theory is presented but no experimental values are provided depends upon the measurement of the volumetric outflow of water from a soil core when the speed of centrifugation is suddenly increased.