Abstract. In this paper, the results of permeability and specific surface area analyses as functions of granulometric composition of various sediments (from silty clays to very well-graded gravels) are presented. The effective porosity and the referential grain size are presented as fundamental granulometric parameters expressing an effect of the forces operating on fluid movement through the saturated porous media. This paper suggests procedures for calculating referential grain size and determining effective (flow) porosity, which result in parameters that reliably determine the specific surface area and permeability. These procedures ensure the successful application of the Kozeny–Carman model up to the limits of validity of Darcy’s law. The value of effective porosity in the referential mean grain size function was calibrated within the range of 1.5 μm to 6.0 mm. The reliability of the parameters applied in the KC model was confirmed by a very high correlation between the predicted and tested hydraulic conductivity values (R2=0.99 for sandy and gravelly materials; R2=0.70 for clayey-silty materials). The group representation of hydraulic conductivity (ranging from 10–12 m/s up to 10–2 m/s) presents a coefficient of correlation of R2=0.97 for a total of 175 samples of various deposits. These results present new developments in the research of the effective porosity, the permeability and the specific surface area distributions of porous materials. This is important because these three parameters are critical conditions for successful groundwater flow modeling and contaminant transport. Additionally, from a practical viewpoint, it is very important to identify these parameters swiftly and very accurately.
RC: This paper explores an interesting subject, showing the behaviour of porous media with grain sizes varying from silty clay to gravels, comparing the results from pumping tests and the KC equation for samples taken at different depths. I believe that the visual comparison of the values of field and laboratory, shown in the paper, helps demonstrate the arguments outlined by the authors. I recommend the publication of this paper
Determination of soils permeability on the basis of their grains size is definitely very interesting because it allows to predict the permeability from easily measured and routinely obtainable data. The article has a great value also because the investigations were carried out on a large number of samples. Although I do not agree with all conclusions I think that the article is worthy for publication. AUTHOR'S ANSWER: We thank the reviewer for swift and prompt review. Also, we are glad to hear that reviewer 1 agrees with our opinion that this is an interesting and useful topic. Specific comments: The question is if Kozeny-Carman equation also applies to clays or sands with a larger amount of clay minerals. For example: the studies of Carman C1 HESSD Interactive comment Full screen / Esc
During the pumping of wells, the groundwater level drawdown, as measured in the pumped well, is increased by non-linear losses caused by the water flow velocity through the well screens. This undermines the adequacy of the direct use of the measured drawdown data in the well for the purpose of the realistic identification of the effective well radius and aquifer parameters. This anomaly is avoided by reshaping the drawdown function into a function of the specific drawdown sw/Q of the pumped well. This reshaping simplifies the exclusion of non-linear losses from the sequence of measured data of the water level in the well at the position of the effective radius of the pumped well. Combining the data of linear losses and the respective pumping rate of the pumped well, a function of the specific drawdown of the radial flow sw/Q was formed. This function describes the aquifer parameter relations during the respective test pumping. A consistent sequence of the function of the specific drawdown sw/Q of the pumped well reveals the actual value of the coefficient of nonlinear losses. Moreover, the specific drawdown function enables the reliable estimation of aquifer transmissivity using only the pumped well drawdown data.
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