Applications of Darcys Law

z Vertical Flow is in the z direction. Horizontal Flow is in the x direction. In addition to the sign convention for flow direction, we must also consider the soil as a 3dimensional system.

x
y Flow in the y direction is in the 3rd dimension.

Steps in the application of Darcys Law

Define a Reference Elevation Determine two points where H is known Calculate the Gradient

Horizontal Column

1 x2 - x1 = column length L

2 2

Vertical Column
z2 - z1 = column length L

Horizontal Flow
Jw = - Ks H = - Ks (H2 H1)/(x2 x1) Vertical Flow

Jw = - Ks H = - Ks (H2 H1)/(z2 z1)

Where H = p + z (Driving Force)

In the generic ---Jw = - Ks H = - Ks (H/L) p1 = - Ks (H2 - H2)/L p2

Ks 1 L 2

ZR = 0

H1 = p1 + z1 = p1 + 0 = p1
H = H2 - H1 = p2 p1

H2 = p2 + z2 = p2 + 0 = p2
H = (p2 - p1)/L

Jw = - Ks (p2 - p1)/L

p 2

Jw = - Ks H = - Ks (H/L) = - Ks (H2 - H2)/L

H1 = p1 + z1 = 0 + 0 = 0 H2 = p2 + z2 = p2 + L

Ks L

H = H2 - H1 = (p2 + L) - 0 = p2 + L
H = (p2 + L)/L = p2/L + 1

1 p = atmosphere

ZR = 0

Jw = - Ks (p2/L + 1)

Horizontal Flow

H1 = p1 + z1 = 10 cm + 0 = 10 cm H2 = p2 + z2 = 0 + 0 = 0 p1 = 10 cm H = H2 - H1 = 0 - 10 cm = -10 cm H = 10 cm/100 cm = - 0.10

Ks = 100 cm/d 1 L = 100 cm 2

ZR = 0

Jw = - Ks (H2 - H1)/L
Jw = - (100 cm/d)(- 0.10) = 10 cm/d Positive so confirms flow is to the right.

Vertical Flow (Down)

p = 10 cm 2 Ks = 100 cm/d

H1 = p1 + z1 = 0 + 0 = 0 H2 = p2 + z2 = 10 cm + 100 cm = 110 cm H = H2 - H1 = 110 cm - 0 cm = 110 cm H = 110 cm/100 cm = 1.1

L = 100 cm

Jw = - Ks (H2 H1)/L
1 p = atmosphere ZR = 0

Jw = - (100 cm/d)(1.1) = -110 cm/d Negative, so confirms flow is downward, and is greater than that of horizontal flow by the magnitude of Ks.

Vertical Flow (Up):

Jw = Ksp1/L - Ks
H1 = p1 + z1 = 110 cm + 0 cm = 110 cm H2 = p2 + z2 = 0 + 100 cm = 100 cm 2 Ks = 100 cm/d 1 H = H2 - H1 = 100 cm - 110 cm = - 10 cm H = H/L = -10cm/100cm = - 0.1
L = 100 cm

ZR = 0

p = 110 cm

Jw = - (100 cm/d) (- 0.10) = 10 cm/d Positive value so we know that flow is upward.

Measurement of Ks
Constant Head Permeameter Measure Q/t
p=b r2

A = r2 Compute Jw
L

Ks

Solve for Ks Jw = Q/t(r2) = - KsH Ks = - Q/(tr2H)

ZR = 0 Jw

Ks = - (Jw/H)
Where Jw is negative for downward flow

Jw = - Ks (H2 - H1)/L
p=b r2

H1 = p1 + z1 = 0 H2 = p2 + z2 = b + L
L

Ks

Jw = - Ks (b+L)/L Ks = - JwL/(b+L) where Jw is negative (-)(-) = +

ZR = 0 Jw

NOTE: Ks cannot be -.

Falling Head Permeameter

H = (H2 - H1)/L = (b(t)+L)/L

b(t) r2

Jw(t) = db/dt = -Ks (b(t)+L)/L db/(b(t)+L) = -Ks/L dt b=b0 at t=0 where

Ks

Integrating for t=0 to t=ti for bi<b0

ZR = 0 Jw(t)

Ks = L/t1 * ln [(b0+L)/(b1+L)]

Hydrostatic Pressure at point z

b

r2

Ks z

Apply Darcys Law over the entire column and compute Jw and Ks
At steady-state water flow Jw is constant throughout the column

ZR = 0 Jw

Hydrostatic Pressure at point z

b

r2

At point z (2):
H1 = p1 + z1 = 0 H2 = p + z Jw = -Ks (p+z)/z
ZR = 0

Ks z

Jw

-Ks(p+z)z = -Ks(b+L)L
p = (b+L)/L * z - z p = bz/L

(p+z)/z = (b+L)/L
p = ((b/L)+1)z- z

p decreases linearly over the column

Water Flow in a Layered Soil

b k5 k3 k2 k1 Jw k6 k4 6 5 4 3 L Ke

2
1

Ke is the total resistance to water flow and is the sum of the individual hydraulic resistivities over the column length
Ke = Li/(Li/Ki)

At steady-state water flow, Jw must be the same through all layers such that Jw = -k1(H2-H1)L1 = -k2(H3-H2)/L2 = -kn(Hn+1-Hn)/Ln

b =10 cm

First compute Ke
K2 = 25 cm/d L2 = 75cm p=? K1 = 5 cm/d Jw = ? L1 = 25cm

Apply Darcys Law over the entire column to determine Jw Do the same example but place the layer of lower conductivity at the top instead of the bottom of the column

Intrinsic Permeability
Ks = k(lg)/ where k is a property of the medium itself, and is not influenced by the liquid

Homogeneity and Isotrophy place to place each dimension

3-dimensional

place H/I = 1K H/AI = 3K

to

place IH/I = 2K IH/AI = 6K