Date of Award
8-2019
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Duane R. Hampton
Second Advisor
Dr. Daniel Cassidy
Third Advisor
Dr. Mohamed Sultan
Keywords
Capillary rise, surface tension, fine grained sand, hydrology, grain size
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Capillary rise in fine-grained sands is especially important due to the wide distribution of fine-grained sediment throughout the unconsolidated sedimentary layers blanketing the earth. The height to which water rises above the water table in porous media is known as the capillary fringe. Tension pulling on the water molecules from the solid surfaces of pores will cause water to rise in the unconsolidated fine-grained sands until the water reaches equilibrium with the downward force of gravity.
Researching the controls behind capillary rise and being able to predict the extent to which water will rise in fine-grained sand helped provide insight into many applied situations affecting industry, infrastructure, agriculture, and environmental remediation. A review of the literature as well as a series of laboratory experiments helped answer questions surrounding the controls on the extent of capillary rise in fine-grained sands.
Recommended Citation
Turluck, Neal S., "An Exploration into the Controls and Extent of Capillary Rise in Fine-Grained Sand" (2019). Masters Theses. 4731.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4731