Wetting angle and water sorptivity in mineral soils

Two simple models of a non-cylindrical ( wavy) capillary have been applied to show the impact of pore shape and of wettingangle on water sorptivityin soils. Wettingangle derived from the Washburn approach gives an overestimated value because of pores are modelled as round capillary tubes, whereas in reality they are tortuous, wavyand interconnected. In wavycapillaries, the impact of wettingangle on water sorptivityand capillaritydriven water transport can be much more pronounced in relation to Washburn approach. An observed wettingfront movement can be seen as a superposition of micro jumps and rests. Experiments carried out with glass powder and two soils confirm the above predictions.