Aqueous Diffusion Coefficients in Unsaturated Materials

1990 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Conca ◽  
Judith Wright
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Diffusion Coefficients ◽  
High Water ◽  
Volumetric Water Content ◽  
Sharp Decline ◽  
Simple Diffusion ◽  
Unsaturated Media ◽  
Water Films ◽  
Water Contents

ABSTRACTSimple diffusion coefficients, D(θ), in most unsaturated media were found to be primarily a function of water content and not material characteristics except where the characteristics affect or determine water content. At high water contents, D(θ) gradually declines as water content decreases, from 10−5 cm2/sec at a volumetric water content of about 50% to 10−7 cm2/sec at a volumetric water content of about 5%, followed by a sharp decline as surface water films become thin and discontinuous and pendular water elements become very small, from 10−7 cm2/sec at a volumetric water content of about 5% to 10−9 cm2/sec at a volumetric water content of about 0.5% to 1%.

Aqueous Diffusion in Repository and Backfill Environments

1992 ◽  
Vol 294 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Conca ◽  
Mick Apted ◽  
Randy Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Surface Diffusion ◽  
High Water ◽  
Double Layers ◽  
Point Contacts ◽  
Simple Diffusion ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Engineered Systems ◽  
Water Contents

ABSTRACTAqueous diffusion coefficients have been experimentally determined in a variety of porous/fractured geologic and engineered media. For performance assessment applications, the purely diffusive flux must be separated from retardation effects. The simple diffusion coefficient, D, does not include any transient chemical effects, e.g., sorption, which lower the diffusion coefficient for some finite time period until equilibrium is reached. D is primarily a function of volumetric water content, θ, and not material characteristics. At high water contents, D gradually declines as water content decreases, from 10−5 cm2/sec at θ ∼ 50% to 10−7 cm2/sec at θ ∼ 5%, followed by a sharp decline to 10−10 cm2/sec at θ ∼ 0.5%. Although surface diffusion has a strong experimental basis in the transport of gases along metal surfaces, experimental evidence for aqueous geologic/backfill/engineered systems strongly indicates that surface diffusion is not important, even in bentonite, because of the extremely poor connectivity among electric double-layers and the extremely low diffusivities and high ∂C/∂x at small area/point contacts which more than negate the increased flux along intragrain surfaces.

An Equilibrium Model of Leaf Water Potentials Which Separates Intra- and Extracellular Potentials

1975 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Acock
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Turgor Pressure ◽  
Bound Water ◽  
Leaf Tissue ◽  
High Water ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
High Water Content ◽  
Pressure Potential ◽  
Matrix Bound ◽  
Water Contents

A model is proposed which makes it possible to estimate the intracellular turgor pressure potential, intracellular osmotic plus matric potential, and intra- and extracellular soIution fractions of water in leaf tissue at any water content. The model requires only the data normally collected with a thermocouple psychrometer: total water potential of live and dead (cells ruptured) tissue at various known water contents. The major assumptions are that (1) the total potential of water in the solution fraction in any part of the tissue multiplied by the volume of water is constant; (2) extracellular water experiences no pressure potential; (3) matrix-bound water is held only by matric forces and contains no solute; (4) the solution fraction of the intracellular water is constant at high water content; and (5) matrix-bound water content is constant over the range of leaf water contents normally examined. The models developed to deal with pressure bomb data are examined critically and doubts are cast on the validity of some of their assumptions.

STUDIES IN TREE PHYSIOLOGY: I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. WATER CONTENTS OF CERTAIN CANADIAN TREES

1939 ◽  
Vol 17c (12) ◽  
pp. 460-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Darnley Gibbs
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Populus Tremuloides ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
High Water ◽  
High Water Content ◽  
White Pine ◽  
General Introduction ◽  
Very High ◽  
Considerable Loss ◽  
Water Contents

Previous work by the author on the water contents of Canadian trees is reviewed and followed by a brief discussion of questions yet to be answered.In Betula alba v. papyrifera, in at least the young parts of B. alba v. pendula laciniata, in B. populifolia, and in several sizes of Populus tremuloides, there is a marked seasonal rhythm in water content. The maximum is at leaf opening, the minimum at leaf fall. In poplar but not in birch there is a very high water content in December. During winter a considerable loss of water may occur. A winter loss is shown also by the wood of hemlock and larch and by twigs and leaves of white pine and hemlock. Losses from leaves are surprisingly small.The behaviour of B. populifolia has been studied for more than three years, and differences have been correlated with observations on weather conditions. Experimental work on movement of water in this species during winter is inconclusive. This work continues.

Influence of clod size and water content on gas permeability of a compacted loess

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 1468-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.L.T. Zhan ◽  
Y.B. Yang ◽  
R. Chen ◽  
C.W.W. Ng ◽  
Y.M. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Power Function ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Gas Permeability ◽  
High Water ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
Northwestern Region ◽  
Water Contents ◽  
Compacted Loess ◽  
Compaction Degree

The northwestern region of China is mainly semi-arid to arid and loess is ubiquitous. This natural resource has considerable potential to be transformed into earthen final covers for local landfills, but first its suitability must be ascertained through extensive tests. In this study, a device was developed to measure the gas permeability of unsaturated compacted loess specimens. Experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of clod size, compaction water content, and post-compaction water content on the gas permeability of the compacted loess. To maintain an identical soil structure, the post-compaction water content was changed using the osmotic technique. It was found that the compaction water content and resultant soil clod size exerted a combined effect on the gas permeability such that, at low water contents, the gas permeability remained fairly constant, but at high water contents the clods became relatively large, and the effect of the clod size dominated the water blockage effect from increasing water content. For specimens with identical soil structure, the gas permeability decreased with the increasing post-compaction degree of saturation at an accelerated rate. A power function is proposed to predict the relationship between the gas permeability normalized by the porosity function of the Kozeny–Carmen model and the post-compaction degree of saturation. Analysis of the experimental data indicates that the parameters for the power function still depend on the porosity of the compacted loess, particularly at high degrees of saturation.

Isothermal micro-calorimetry: a tool to predict seed longevity?

2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona R. Hay ◽  
Michael A.A. O'Neill ◽  
Anthony E. Beezer ◽  
Simon Gaisford
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flow ◽  
Water Content ◽  
High Water ◽  
Seed Longevity ◽  
Total Heat ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Seed Ageing ◽  
Rate Kinetics ◽  
Residual Power ◽  
Water Contents

This paper describes the exploratory use of isothermal micro-calorimetry (IMC) to measure directly the heat flow produced as seeds age. Heat flow was recorded in primed and non-primed (control) seeds of Ranunculus sceleratus L., aged in a micro-calorimeter at 35°C at three different seed water contents [c. 0.12, 0.075 and 0.045 g H2O (g dw)−1]. The rate of heat flow and total heat generated (an indicator of extent of reaction) were generally greater in control seeds, which aged at a faster rate, than in primed seeds. Total heat generated over a given period also increased with increasing water content. The power–time curves did not indicate first- or second-order rate kinetics, consistent with the probability that seed ageing is complex and involves a number of reactions. Even after the capacity to germinate had ceased, there was a residual power signal. As a method, IMC gave consistent results using independent samples at different times. Therefore, short-term experiments at relatively high water contents and/or temperatures may have the potential to predict the relative longevity of seed-lots, at least within a species.

Experimental Study on Dewatering Dredged Clay with Ventilating Vacuum Method

2011 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 1650-1654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Ji ◽  
Jian Wen Ding ◽  
Zhen Shun Hong ◽  
Yue Gui
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Liquid Limit ◽  
Initial Water Content ◽  
Distribution Law ◽  
Initial Water ◽  
Vacuum Method ◽  
Water Contents

A series of model tests were performed on dredged clay with high initial water contents for investigating the dewatering behavior by ventilating vacuum method (VVM). The results shows that the surface water separated from dredged clay can be quickly removed by VVM in which a new pattern PVD is used. In addition, the method also speeds up the deposition of dredged clay. The volume of dredged clay with an initial water content of 4.5 times liquid limit decreases by 50 percent within two months. This paper also investigated the spatial distribution law of water content by TDR method. It is found that the drainage distance of PVD is about 0.3-0.4m.

scholarly journals The effect of restricted hydration on the rate of reaction of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucose isomerase, hexokinase and fumarase. Relevance for metabolism in xeric (near-dry) conditions

1979 ◽  
Vol 179 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Stevens ◽  
Lewis Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Diffusion Coefficients ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Phosphoglucose Isomerase ◽  
Minimal Amount ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Water Contents

A method is described for the measurement of enzyme activity under xeric conditions. The reaction mixtures had water contents ranging between 0.1 and 0.6g/g of reaction mixture. For glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hexokinase and fumarase, enzyme activity became detectable (about 0.05% of the fully hydrated rate) when the water content was about 0.2g/g of reaction mixture, and for phosphoglucose isomerase, around 0.15g/g of reaction mixture. With the water content raised to 0.3g/g of reaction mixture the reaction rates were only increased to 0.1–3% of the fully hydrated rate. When the combined rates for phosphoglucose isomerase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were measured, reasonable agreement was found between the experimental data and those calculated from the individual experimentally determined rates on the assumption that diffusion was not further limiting. A method was devised for measuring the diffusion coefficients of low-molecular-weight substances in solutions having low water contents. The diffusion coefficients of riboflavin in sorbitol solution decreased by about 100-fold when the water content of the latter was reduced from 3 to 0.25g/g of sorbitol. It is concluded that to detect enzyme activity a certain minimal amount of water is required and that above this minimum the rate is still restricted by diffusion limitation. The relevance of the results to the physical state of water in reaction mixtures and to metabolism in seeds and spores in xeric conditions is discussed.

scholarly journals Viability and germination of Scots pine seeds after freezing of harvested cones in vitro

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1035-1041
Author(s):  
Markku Nygren ◽  
Katri Himanen ◽  
Hanna Ruhanen
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
High Water ◽  
Logistic Function ◽  
High Water Content ◽  
Maturation Stage ◽  
Freezing Treatment ◽  
Water Contents

Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.) cone and seed water contents were analyzed in two consecutive seasons during maturation stage in the autumn and in January and March before seed dispersal. Cones with different water contents were subjected to 2 h of freezing at −30 °C, and seed viability and laboratory germination of seeds from individual cones after treatment were analyzed. Seed water content could be well predicted with the measurement of the cone water content, and the general relationship between these two could be described with a generalized logistic function. On average, the water content of cones was 5%–10% units higher than the seeds inside them. The higher the cone water content at the onset of freezing treatment, the higher the proportion of seeds with apparent damage (based on visual inspection of seeds using X-ray images) in that particular cone. High water content in cones also resulted in decreased germination after freezing treatment. The critical cone water content for 50% germination after freezing at −30 °C was approximately 31.3% (fresh mass basis). This corresponds to 21.6% water content in seeds.

scholarly journals Softening of Temperate Ice by Interstitial Water

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conner J. C. Adams ◽  
Neal R. Iverson ◽  
Christian Helanow ◽  
Lucas K. Zoet ◽  
Charlotte E. Bate
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Effective Viscosity ◽  
Tertiary Creep ◽  
Secondary Creep ◽  
Confined Compression ◽  
Grain Sizes ◽  
West Antarctic ◽  
Water Films ◽  
Water Contents

Ice at depth in ice-stream shear margins is thought to commonly be temperate, with interstitial meltwater that softens ice. Models that include this softening extrapolate results of a single experimental study in which ice effective viscosity decreased by a factor of ∼3 over water contents of ∼0.01–0.8%. Modeling indicates this softening by water localizes strain in shear margins and through shear heating increases meltwater at the bed, enhancing basal slip. To extend data to higher water contents, we shear lab-made ice in confined compression with a large ring-shear device. Ice rings with initial mean grain sizes of 2–4 mm are kept at the pressure-melting temperature and sheared at controlled rates with peak stresses of ∼0.06–0.20 MPa, spanning most of the estimated shear-stress range in West Antarctic shear margins. Final mean grain sizes are 8–13 mm. Water content is measured by inducing a freezing front at the ice-ring edges, tracking its movement inward with thermistors, and fitting the data with solutions of the relevant Stefan problem. Results indicate two creep regimes, below and above a water content of ∼0.6%. Comparison of effective viscosity values in secondary creep with those of tertiary creep from the earlier experimental study indicate that for water contents of 0.2–0.6%, viscosity in secondary creep is about twice as sensitive to water content than for ice sheared to tertiary creep. Above water contents of 0.6%, viscosity values in secondary creep are within 25% of those of tertiary creep, suggesting a stress-limiting mechanism at water contents greater than 0.6% that is insensitive to ice fabric development in tertiary creep. At water contents of ∼0.6–1.7%, effective viscosity is independent of water content, and ice is nearly linear-viscous. Minimization of intercrystalline stress heterogeneity by grain-scale melting and refreezing at rates that approach an upper bound as grain-boundary water films thicken might account for the two regimes.

scholarly journals Experimental Study on Dynamic Tensile Failure of Sandstone Specimens with Different Water Contents

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Li ◽  
Gang Lin ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Xianbiao Mao ◽  
Lianying Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crack Propagation ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
High Water ◽  
Tensile Failure ◽  
High Water Content ◽  
Dynamic Tensile Strength ◽  
Macroscopic Crack ◽  
Water Contents

Understanding the effect of water saturation on dynamic failure of rocks is of great importance to tunnel excavation at water-rich coal mines and prevention of rock bursts by water injection. Dynamic Brazilian disc tests are performed to study mechanical behaviour of sandstones in this paper. The results indicate that water saturation significantly weakens the dynamic tensile strength of sandstones and increases the specimen strain at which the specimen fails. The damage degree of sandstones reduces gradually with increasing water contents. Failure of the sandstone specimen includes the crack initiation at the center of the specimen, macroscopic crack propagation, and stretch of the macroscopic crack through the specimen. In addition, parallel macroscopic crack propagation is found in the specimen with a low water content. From the observation of fracture sections, microstructures are compact in the specimen with high water contents. This is due to the swell of the kaolinite in the specimen after water saturation. The failure mechanism of microstructures is typical brittle failure in the specimen with a high water content, whereas ductile fracture is found in the specimen with a low water content. Different failure processes of microstructures lead to the differences between mechanical properties and macroscopic failure characteristics of the specimens with various water contents.

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