| Abstract: | An investigation was conducted to develop a comprehensive moisture model for predicting non-isothermal moisture conditions in soils. An extensive literature review indicated that a model based on the Philip and de Vries equations for non-isothermal moisture movement and heat conduction would give the best results. By using numerical methods, the implicit finite difference approximations to the moisture movement and heat-transfer equations were programmed for computer solution of water content and temperature in the soil with time. Validation studies indicate that the moisture model can be used to predict accurately moisture conditions in the soil. The model was validated by using hydraulic data from laboratory studies conducted on soil columns compacted with AASHO A-3 and AASHO A-4 soil. The application of the moisture model to the study of non-isothermal moisture movement in the field is demonstrated. The influence of parameters such as water table depth, precipitation, and soil hydraulic properties on soil moisture content are shown by use of the moisture model. The model is shown to be applicable to a wide range of boundary conditions and that it predicts the moisture-temperature regime with time in soils utilizing climatic input data. |
