HIGH-INTENSITY X-RAY AND TENSIOMETER MEASUREMENTS IN RAPIDLY CHANGING PREFERENTIAL FLOW-FIELDS

Synchrotron x-rays at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) and other available facilities provide a high-resolution means of quantitatively studying rapid changes of fluid content in porous media. This technique is based on monitoring x-ray absorbance changes in sand volumes traversed by an intense, highly collimated synchrotron x-ray beam. The high intensity and brightness of synchrotron radiation permit acquisition of statistically significant x-ray count data each second during the drying process of fingered flow. Simultaneous measurement of water pressure using tensiometers provides a reliable dynamic measurement of drying curves.