The steady distribution of moisture beneath a two-dimensional surface source
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
The steady distribution of moisture beneath a two-dimensional strip source is analyzed by applying the quasi-linear approximation. The source is described by specifying either the moisture content or the infiltration rate. A water table is specified at some depth D below the surface, the depth varying from shallow to semi-infinite. Numerical solutions are determined, via the boundary integral equation method, as a function of the material inverse sorptive length {alpha}, the width of the strip source 2L, and the depth to the water table. The moisture introduced at the source is broadly spread below the surface when {alpha}L {much lt} 1, for which absorption by capillary forces is dominant over gravity-induced flow. Conversely, the distribution becomes fingerlike along the vertical when {alpha}L {much gt} 1, where gravity is dominant over absorption. For a source described by specifying the moisture content, the presence of a water table at finite depth influences the infiltration through the source when {alpha}D is less than about 4; infiltration rates obtained assuming the water table depth is semi-infinite are of sufficient accuracy for greater values of {alpha}D. When the source is described by a specified infiltration flux, the maximum allowable value of this flux for which the material beneath the source remains unsaturated is determined as a function of nondimensional sorptive number and depth to the water table.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5946693
- Journal Information:
- Water Resources Research; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (United States) Vol. 27:6; ISSN 0043-1397; ISSN WRERA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
ABSORPTION
BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CAPILLARY FLOW
FLOW MODELS
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECHARGE
SOILS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WATER
WATER TABLES