EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THE FINGERING PHENOMENA IN 2 DIMENSIONS AND SIMULATION USING A MODIFIED INVASION PERCOLATION MODEL

Experiments of water infiltration in a vertical plane through layered soils were carried out in the laboratory. We have followed the fingeri ng dynamics by using image techniques. The fractal theory has been app lied to describe the fingering phenomena. We also have simulated a mod ified site gradient invasion percolation model where most of the physi cal ingredients relevant to the problem have been incorporated. In con trast to what occurs with the standard gradient invasion percolation m odel, we have found the formation of many fingers. Taking into account the bond number, the number of fingers, and the wetted area of the ex periments, we have fitted the parameters of our model. This opens the possibility of a theoretical prediction of the pore size distribution of the soil. The results are then compared with the experimental data. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.