Abstract
AbstractA review of the derivation of the diffusion equation from the potential equation for unsaturated flow of liquids in porous materials reveals that the only additional assumption required is that diffusivity is a unique function of water content. The validity of this assumption is tested by following absorption of water into a horizontal column of soil with a gamma ray densitometer. To ensure that required boundary conditions were met, the soil was evacuated to eliminate entrapped air or air pressure build‐up ahead of the wetting‐front; and water was applied quickly, evenly, and at constant negative head through a plane sintered glass bead plate, pressed against the bare plane end of the column to initiate flow. Diffusivity vs. water content curves constructed from these data reveal that diffusivity is not a function of water content alone.
Published Version
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