Method to estimate water storage capacity of capillary barriers

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1998)124:4(297)· OSTI ID:616468

Stormont, J C ^[1]; Morris, C E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
2. Univ. of Wollongong, New South Wales (Australia). Dept. of Civil and Mining Engineering

This paper presents a method to estimate the additional storage capacity derived from the presence of a capillary break or barrier beneath a soil layer used in a surface cover system. The method involves first estimating the suction head profile in the soil layer at breakthrough. Then, using a relationship between suction head and water content (i.e., the moisture characteristic function), the corresponding water content profile is derived. Integrating the water content over the depth of the soil layer yields the total water in the layer from which the net storage capacity can be determined. Good agreement was obtained between the water storage capacity calculated using this method to those derived from numerical simulations. Example calculations illustrate the influence of the overlying soil texture, thickness, and the water entry head of the coarse layer on the storage capacity of a capillary barrier system. The paper also discusses how the moisture characteristic curve provides insight into the expected storage capacity for a soil in a capillary barrier configuration.

• Sponsoring Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• OSTI ID: 616468
• Journal Information: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 124; ISSN 1090-0241; ISSN JGGEFK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CALCULATION METHODS
CAPACITY
CAPILLARY FLOW
COVERINGS
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
LAND RECLAMATION
REVEGETATION
SOIL CHEMISTRY
WATER SATURATION