Timothy (Jak) J. Kearns Flow in the Unsaturated Zone Fall

Fall 2013 Publications / Co-Publications Journal of Surveying Engineering (Pending) Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (Pending) 1)Land subsidence monitoring using GPS in the Houston metropolitan 1) Land subsidence monitoring using GPS in the Houston metropolitan area, Texas: area, Texas: Timothy J. Kearns, Guoquan Wang, Xueyi Jia, Jiajun Jiang, Dongje Lee Journal of Engineering Geology (Submitted: 7 Nov. 2013) 2)Is there deep-seated subsidence in the Houston-Galveston area? 2) Is there deep-seated subsidence in the Houston-Galveston area? - Jiangbo Yu, Guoquan Wang, Timothy J. Kearns, and Linqiang Yang Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (Pending) 3)Assessing the Accuracy of Long-Term Subsidence Derived From 3) Assessing the Accuracy of Long-Term Subsidence Derived From Borehole Extensometer Data Using GPS Observations: a Case Study Borehole Extensometer Data Using GPS Observations: a Case Study in Houston, Texas in Houston, Texas - Guoquan Wang, M.ASCE; Jiangbo Yu; Timothy J. Kearns; and Jesse Ortega Journal of Surveying Engineering (Pending ) 4)A stable reference frame for landslide monitoring using GPS in the 4) A stable reference frame for landslide monitoring using GPS in the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands region Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands region - Guoquan Wang; Timothy J. Kearns; Jiangbo Yu; Gabriel Saenz Journal: Landslides

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Key Terms) Unsaturated Zone – “ ( Unsaturated Zone – “One zone, which occurs immediately below the land surface in most areas, contains both water and air and is referred to as the unsaturated zone”(Heath, C., 1983). Vadose Zone – ( Vadose Zone – Sometimes called the zone of aeration. It is largely considered equivalent to the unsaturated zone (Nimmo, 2005). Rock / Mineral Air Water Vadose Zone / Unsaturated Zone (Recreation from Nimmo et al., 2005)

Brief History / Literature Review Model of tortuous capillary flow (recreation from Washburn, (1921)). Despite nearly a century, if not prior, since study of the vadose zone occurred it is only since the early 1990s that flow in the vadose zone has received serious study concerning the movement of contaminants in the soil (Washburn, 1921; Boulding, 2003).

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Water Content) 1)Hydrostatics (Focus): *Water content Energy Pressure Retention 2) Hydrodynamics: Diffuse flow Preferential flow θ w = (ρ b / ρ w ) x (θ m ) volumetric water content gravimetric water content bulk densitydensity of water (Nimmo et al., 2005)

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Energy + Pressure) 1)Hydrostatics (Focus): Water content Energy Pressure Retention Capillary action tube (modified from Nimmo et al., 2005) ψ = −2σ r Nimmo et al., 2005

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Implications) “Water will flow up hill.” (Hankwang, 2001)

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Implications) Capillary action in the vadaose zone can be (in part) conceptualized simply by how water is absorbed in a paper towel. Water in the full cup will flow through the paper towel and into the empty cup. Full Cup Chrome Battery, 2010

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Implications) Damage to Infrastructure Ettringite formation ( Ca 6 (Al(OH) 6 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 3 26H 2 O ) Sulfate Attack!!! Road (pavement) heaves Texas Department of Transportation, 2005

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Implications) Bedrock (Shale) Oxidation Zone = Sulfate + Calcite +Water + Gypsum Saturated Zone Vadose Zone Surface Concrete Road #1 #2 #3 Uphill Flow – by Capillary Action Gypsum Gypsum E. (Burk et al., 1999 ; Little and Kunagalli, 2005 ; Texas Department of Transportation, 2005)

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Implications) Bedrock (Shale) Oxidation Zone = Sulfate + Calcite +Water + Gypsum Saturated Zone Surface Sulfate Attack!!! (Heave) Gypsum Gypsum E. Ettringite : Ca 6 (Al(OH) 6 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 3 26H 2 O Ca 6 (Al(OH) 6 ) 2 (SO4) 3 26H 2 O   6Ca Al(OH) SO OH H 2 O Dissolution Reaction: (CaO) CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O (Al 3+ ) (Burk et al., 1999; Little and Kunagalli, 2005)

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Applications) (Sodha, et al., 1981) Modeling of flow in the unsaturated zone (through capillary action) can utilized create more efficient solar sills. Wicks (series of capillary tubes) Fresh H 2 O Brine Water

Flow in the Unsaturated Zone (Retention) 1)Hydrostatics (Focus): Water content Energy Pressure Retention Relationship between matric potential and water content for different soils (recreation from Tuller and Or, 2003

Conclusion / Summary Hydrostatics (focus) & Hydrodynamics Water content Energy & Pressure Retention Capillary Action (Equation) Uphill Flow Ettringite (Implications) Solar sills (Applications) Matric Potential VS Water Content Rock / Mineral Air Water (Equation) (Recreation from Nimmo et al., 2005)

Questions

Disclaimer None of the information presented in this PowerPoint presentation is original. All the information is derived from cited documents in the references portion of this presentation. Free use for all interested parties, but created for the purpose of partial fulfillment of the requirement for Geol – Hydrogeology (Hydrology). This document can be downloaded at:

References Heath, C., Basic ground-water hydrology: U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 2220, pp. 86. Boulding, J., Ginn, J., Practical Handbook of Soil, Vadose Zone, and Ground-Water Contamination: Assessment, Prevention, and Remediation, Second Edition.CRC Press, ISBN: , , pp Burk, B., Goss, G., Kern, J., The Role of Gypsum in Production of Sulfate-Induced Deformation of Lime-Treated Soils. Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, 11 (2) Little, D., Kunagalli, B., Ettringite Formation in Lime-Treated Soils: Establishing Thermodynamic Foundations for Engineering Practice. Paper submitted to the Transportation Research Board for Presentation and Publication at the 2005 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., (accessed 11 Nov. 2013).

References Texas Department of Transportation, Guidelines for treatment of sulfate- rich soils and bases in pavement structures. Report by the Construction Division Materials and Pavement Section Geotechnical, Soils and Aggregate Branch, (accessed 11 Nov. 2013). Sodha, M., Kumar, A., Tiwari, G., Tyagi, R., Simple multiple wick solar sill: analysis and performance. Solar Energy, 26 (2) 127 – 131. Washburn, E., The dynamics of capillary flow. Physical Review, 17 (3) Nimmo, J., Unsaturated Zone Flow Processes, in Anderson, M., Bear, J., eds., Encyclopedia of Hydrological Sciences: Part 13--Groundwater: Chichester, UK, Wiley, v. 4, pp , doi: / hsa161, (accessed 11 Nov. 2013).

Image References Groasis, V., Capillary water and how it can help to combat desertification. A video by Groasis, 11 Nov. 2013). Chrome Battery, Capillary action experiment. A video by Battery Kids, (Accessed 11 Nov. 2013). Hankwang, Capillary water flow in a brick that is in contact with water at the bottom. The time elapsed after first contact with water is indicated. The brick height is 225 mm. From the weight increase, the estimated porosity is 25%. An image on Wikipedia, (Accessed 11 Nov. 2013).