Experimental investigation of two-dimensional flow phenomena using unsaturated transparent soil

Recent developments in transparent soil research have facilitated laboratory study of unsaturated flow applications. The inherent benefit in this technological advancement is the ability to measure the degree of saturation at all locations within the experimental profile simultaneously using digital image analysis; thus negating the requirement for intrusive instrumentation at discrete points. In this dissertation, the concepts developed for a column will be expanded to translate the aforementioned benefits of transparent soil into a two-dimensional apparatus. The newly developed apparatus was used to advance investigations on the effects of air entrapment ahead of a wetting front into a larger scale two-dimensional study. Finally, a study on the formation of a capillary break in unsaturated transparent soil, and the performance of a capillary barrier based on its geometrical set-up will be presented.;Keywords Transparent soil, unsaturated soil, infiltration, digital image analysis, two-dimensional apparatus, confined air infiltration, capillary break, capillary barrier...