Moisture‐dependent anisotropy calculations using the van Genuchten–Mualem model

Abstract

Variable, moisture‐dependent anisotropy in unsaturated media is an effective, large‐scale (macroscopic) flow property that results from media heterogeneities at a smaller scale. This technical note documents the variable moisture‐dependent anisotropy calculations using a script for the power‐averaging tensorial connectivity–tortuosity model. The accuracy of the R script calculations was cross‐checked against results using other software. The testing and comparison of the script calculations with other software produced near‐identical results for both the sand‐dominated and gravel‐dominated sediment samples. The R script, Excel spreadsheets, and all the input data are available as electronic files.