FINGERED FLOW IN 2 DIMENSIONS .1. MEASUREMENT OF MATRIC POTENTIAL

Precise management of the changing matric potential during infiltration into unsaturated soil required the development of miniature, high-speed, planar tensiometers. A novel design was developed, with response time of less than 1 s. The applicability of the devices is shown through measurements of the matric potential in growing instabilities, both in the induction zone and along the vertical finger profile. Tensiometry is demonstrated to be a practical method of obtaining data with high temporal and spatial resolution for the study of dynamic flow fields and facilitates testing of theoretical results for unstable flow fields.