The Temperature Effect on the Equilibrium Energy Status of Water Held by Porous Media

Authors:
  • GWG. E. Wilkinson
    G. E. Wilkinson
  • AKA. Klute
    A. Klute
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Abstract
Water held in porous media is under the influence of a number of forces. The energy of the water in these force fields may be described with the aid of the potential theory of classical physics or with the aid of classical thermodynamics. Desorption curves were determined for two sand fractions and a silt fraction at 48° and 44°C. Temperature coefficients of the potential calculated on the basis that surface tension‐radius of curvature was the principle water‐holding mechanism were compared with the experimental observations. The results indicated that in the fine sand (53–74µ) and silt (13.5–18.0µ) other mechanisms besides surface tension‐radius of curvature may be involved in holding the water in the porous medium.