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Hydraulic Conductivity Calculations for Unsaturated Steady-State and Transient-State Flow in Sand¹

ABSTRACT

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.

¹ Contribution from Soil Science Department, University of Florida. Research supported in part by the US Department of the Interior as Florida Water Resources Res. Center Project A-026-FLA published as Paper no. 5591, Journal Series, Florida Exp. Sta.

² Graduate Research Assistant and Associate Professor (Soil Physics), respectively, Soil Science Dep., Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611. The senior author is now a Visiting Research Associate, Dep. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, Ill. 61801.

Received for publication September 27, 1974. Accepted for publication April 22, 1975.