Abstract

The present paper reports a study conducted to examine several sands with a large spread of particle size in order to validate the modelling of both Darcy's and Forchheimer's law parameters, which could be applied to any kind of sand. An experimental set-up has been specially conceived to generate hydraulic gradients within fine sands higher than 600. We also present an attempt at using a capillary-type flow model to determine structural parameters of sand and predict pressure gradients. The specific surface areas calculated appear to be consistent with surface areas estimated from screening experiments. Similarly, tortuosity values calculated from pressure drop experiments stand within the range of values found in the literature, measured using an alternative method, the conductometric method. Using one dimensionless equation of the capillary-type flow model, a single value of the pore Reynolds number makes it possible to determine, whatever the porous medium, the limits of Darcy's flow regime. This Reynolds number value is 4.3.