Longitudinal and lateral dispersion in an isotropic porous medium

Coefficients of longitudinal and lateral dispersion were measured for steady uniform laminar flow through an isotropic porous medium. A unique experimental method for measuring lateral dispersion is described. It is found that the ratio of the coefficient of longitudinal dispersion D₁ to the coefficient of lateral dispersion D₂ is given by $\frac {D_1}{D_2} = \lambda \Re ^n$ where λ and n are dimensionless coefficients dependent upon the pore-system geometry, and [real ] is the Reynolds number based on the seepage velocity, the average grain diameter, and the kinematic viscosity.