HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Shepard, J. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Shepard, J. S. Agricola Articles by Shepard, J. S.

Using a Fractal Model to Compute the Hydraulic Conductivity Function

Dep. of Land, Air, and Water Resources, Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Because it is easier and faster to determine the soil water retention curve than the hydraulic conductivity function, it would be desirable to have a method for calculating the latter from the former. A physically based relationship between conductivity and retention would, if correct, shed light on the status and movement of water in the soil. A method for calculating the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soil from moisture retention data and a fractal description of soil water flow paths was derived. The fractal model was a triadic Koch curve with segment lengths equal to twice the capillary radius, which was equivalent to the matric potential of selected points on the retention curve. The total length of the water flow path at the different pressures was determined by the total length of the fractal curve. This means that the path length increases as the matric potential increases in magnitude. Published data were used to determine average measured retention curves and hydraulic conductivity functions for three soil types: sand, loam, and clay. The calculated hydraulic conductivities approximated the measured conductivities at all water contents for all soil types.

Received for publication August 27, 1991.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. M. Arya, D. C. Bowman, B. B. Thapa, and D. K. Cassel Scaling Soil Water Characteristics of Golf Course and Athletic Field Sands from Particle-Size Distribution Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 11, 2008; 72(1): 25 - 32. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V.Y. Chertkov and I. Ravina Tortuosity of Crack Networks in Swelling Clay Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., November 1, 1999; 63(6): 1523 - 1530. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Clennell Tortuosity: a guide through the maze Geological Society, London, Special Publications, January 1, 1997; 122(1): 299 - 344. [Abstract] [PDF]