HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Laliberte, G. E. Articles by Brooks, R. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Laliberte, G. E. Articles by Brooks, R. H. Agricola Articles by Laliberte, G. E. Articles by Brooks, R. H.

Hydraulic Properties of Disturbed Soil Materials Affected by Porosity¹

ABSTRACT

Recently some hydraulic properties of porous materials have been described for use in constructing valid physical models that are easily measured and practically significant. These properties have been used to express similitude requirements for drainage of initially saturated soils.

This paper describes how soil packing effects the hydraulic properties of three soil materials. Soil packing as measured by bulk density and porosity is related to bubbling pressure, poresize distribution index and permeability. With a light hydrocarbon oil as the wetting fluid the pore-size distribution index was changed only slightly over a wide range of porosities. Permeability and bubbling pressure, on the other hand, were changed severalfold over the same range of porosities.

For modeling purposes, one requirement for similitude between model and prototype is identical values of pore-size distribution index. Evidently, bubbling pressure may be adjusted to suit the size of the model by changing the packing density without appreciably changing the pore-size distribution index.

Key Words: bubbling pressure • poresize distribution permeability • bulk density • capillary pressure • porous media

¹ Contribution from the Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Colorado Agr. Exp. Sta. and the Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA.

² Research Scientist, Research Station, Canada Department of Agriculture, Lethbridge, Alberta, formerly Graduate Research Assistant, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins.

³ Associate Professor, Agricultural Engineering Dept., Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, Ore.; formerly Research Agricultural Engineer, USDA, Fort Collins, Colo.

Received for publication October 17, 1966. Accepted for publication April 19, 1967.