Abstract
The Darcy–Buckingham (DB) law, critical to the prediction of unsaturated flow, is widely used but has rarely been experimentally tested, and therefore may not be adequate in certain conditions. Failure of this law would imply that the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is not constant for a given water content, as assumed in nearly all subsurface flow models. This study aims to test the DB law on unsaturated porous rock, complementing the few previous tests, all done on soils. Two lithotypes of calcareous porous rocks were tested. The quasi-steady centrifuge method was used to measure the flux density for different centrifugal driving forces while maintaining essentially constant water content, as required. Any deviations from the direct proportionality of the measured flux and the applied force would indicate a violation of the DB law. Our results show that, for the tested rocks and conditions, no physical phenomena occurred to cause a failure of the DB law.
Highlights
Darcy’s law has been central to subsurface hydrology for well over a century [1]
Its application to flow in unsaturated media, made possible by essential concepts developed by Buckingham [2] and often referred to for this purpose as the Darcy–Buckingham (DB) law, is a principal foundation of the hydrology of soils and rock above the water table
It is routinely applied without question in hydrology, agriculture, soil mechanics, ecology, waste disposal, mining, and contaminant transport, it has been subjected to remarkably few rigorous tests
Summary
Its application to flow in unsaturated media, made possible by essential concepts developed by Buckingham [2] and often referred to for this purpose as the Darcy–Buckingham (DB) law, is a principal foundation of the hydrology of soils and rock above the water table. It is routinely applied without question in hydrology, agriculture, soil mechanics, ecology, waste disposal, mining, and contaminant transport, it has been subjected to remarkably few rigorous tests.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
