An experimental study of vertical infiltration into a structurally unstable swelling soil, with particular reference to the infiltration throttle

Abstract

The infiltration phenomena associated with a structurally unstable swelling soil are compared with those of a two-layer stable system of a fine sand layer over coarse sand, the fine sand simulating a slaked layer at the soil surface. Water content and bulk density are measured using dual source gamma ray attenuation, pore water pressures by means of individual tensiometer-transducer systems, and soil temperatures by means of individual thermistor-bridge systems. Analysis of the sand column using well-established principles shows that after the wetting front has passed the texture boundary, infiltration is controlled by Kmax of the fine sand layer and the negative moisture potential in the coarse sand at the texture boundary. After the wetting front penetrates the column, the moisture potential at the texture boundary becomes steady and is unaffected by the development of a capillary fringe and outflow at the base of the column. The negative moisture potentials at the texture boundary give rise to potential gradients up to 6.0 in the simulated slaked layer, and an infiltration rate several times that of Kmax. The low flow rates caused by the fine sand layer give rise to an unstable wetting front in the coarse sand and severe 'fingering' occurs. In the swelling soil column, with aggregates of the same size as the coarse sand, the infiltration throttle occurs immediately below the visibly slaked layer and not at the ground surface. Potential gradients through the throttle reach a maximum of 5.9 similar to that in the layered sand column, but the infiltration behaviour of swelling soil differs from the latter in other respects. Infiltration into the former does not occur under isothermal conditions, a 'hot front' 3°C above ambient occurring 2-3 mm ahead of the wetting front, and infiltration does not reach a constant rate because of changes in the hydraulic properties of the throttle with time. Moisture profiles in the swelling soil column during infiltration show the various zones described by Bodman and Colman (1944) for non-swelling soils. An enlarged apparent transition zone extend to 12 cm below the soil surface. Other properties such as density, moisture content, and total potential suggest that much of this apparent transition zone is really part of a transmission zone made up of layers of soil which have different properties because of swelling.