DOI: 10.5176/2251-3361_GEOS12.113
Authors: Muhammad Mukhlisin, Marlin Ramadhan Baidillah, Mohd Raihan Taha
Abstract: Electrical capacitance volume tomography (ECVT) is a
recently-developed technique for real-time, non-invasive 3D
monitoring of processes involving materials with strong contrasts
in dielectric permittivity. This paper is the first application of the
method to visualization of water flow in soil. We describe the
principles behind the method, and then demonstrate its use with
a simple laboratory infiltration experiment. 32 ECVT sensors
were installed on the sides of an empty PVC column. The column
was packed with dry sand and again supplied with water at a
constant rate with data collected every second. Data were
analyzed to give bulk average water contents, which proved
consistent with the water supply rates. Data were also analyzed to
give 3D images (216 voxels) allowing visualization of the water
distribution during the experiments. Result of this study showed
that water infiltration into the soil, wall flow, progress of the
unstable wetting front and the final water distribution are clearly
visible.
Keywords: soil water infiltration; ECVT; real time imaging
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