Universidad

Autnoma de
Quertaro.
Geotechnics l.

Capillary
Phenomenon

M. en C. R. Guillermo Paz Cruz

Adrin Alejandro Snchez

Garca.
July 07, 2015
Surface tension.
The work needed to increase the surface area of a liquid turns out to be
proportional to the increase. The relationship between the two concepts is defined
as surface tension coefficient.
dW =T s dA
Ts

Is the surface tension coefficient that is measured with units of energy

divided by area units. It represents the strength by length unit in every line over the
surface
It can be proven that, when a liquid has a curved surface, is generated in the
curved meniscus a drop of pressure, so that the pressure on the convex side is
always less than that in the concave side
Contact angle.
Consider in an open-air liquid, the contact area with the solid container wall.
Consider molecules of the liquid surface in the immediate vicinity with solid wall.
One of these molecules is requested by forces of two types: cohesion and
adhesion. The first are due to the action of the remaining molecules of the liquid;
the latter are exerted by the molecules of the container walls
It is known that for a liquid can be at rest, it is a condition that pushes suffering are
normal to the corresponding area. Therefore, since the liquid is in equilibrium, the
surface must be curved so as to be normal to the R forces in each case.
The angle of the meniscus with the container wall is called contact angle ().
If <90 the meniscus is concave; if > 90 is convex

Image 1. The adhesion force is stronger

Image 2. The cohesion force is stronger.

Capillary rise in soils

The continuous void spaces in soil can behave as bundles of capillary tubes of
variable cross section. Because of surface tension force, water may rise above the
phreatic surface.
The height of rise of water in the capillary tube can be given by summing the forces
in the vertical direction, or

Where ; T=Surface tension 1force/length2

= Unit weight of water

d= diameter of capillary tube

w =

Angle of contact

For pure water and clean glass,

=0

Thus, the smaller the capillary tube diameter, the larger the capillary rise.

Although the concept of capillary rise as demonstrated for an ideal capillary tube
can be applied to soils, one must realize that the capillary tubes formed in soils
because of the continuity of voids have variable cross sections. The results of the
nonuniformity on capillary rise can be seen when a dry column of sandy soil is
placed in contact with water. The degree of saturation is about 100% up to a height
of h2 , and this corresponds to the largest voids. Beyond the height h2 , water
can occupy only the smaller voids; hence, the degree of saturation is less than
100%. The maximum height of capillary rise corresponds to the smallest voids.
Hazen gave a formula for the approximation of the height of capillary rise in the
form.

Image 3. (a) Rise of water in the capillary tube; (b) pressure within the height of rise in the
capillary tube (atmospheric pressure taken as datum)

The pore water pressure u at a point in a layer of soil fully saturated by capillary
rise is equal to w h , where h= is the height of the point under consideration

measured from the groundwater table, with the atmospheric pressure taken as
datum.
Therefore, the pore water pressure u, immediately below the meniscus is
u=h w =

2 T s cos 2 T s
=
r
R

Where, R is the radius of meniscus.

The last ecuation show that, the capillary rise is inversely proportional to the radius
of the capillary tube.

Exercises.
Calculate the h maximum compatible with the equilibrium.

If in

D 1 the meniscus is totally developed, give the value of

D2 .

When the meniscus is totally formed in the side where it will be formed first, find
the value of u in the next tube system.