The effect of pore geometry in constitutive hysteretic models for unsaturated water flow

Water flow in porous media is strongly controlled by the microscale structure of pore space. Therefore, understanding dynamics at scale fundamental to better estimate and describe hydraulic properties phenomena associated water which are observed a macroscale such as field or laboratory experiments. Pore geometry plays key role since its variations cause modifications behaviour macroscale. In this study, we develop new analytical model represents space medium bundle tortuous sinusoidal capillary tubes with periodic throats fractal pore-size distribution. This compared previous straight constrictive order analyze effect on under partially saturated conditions. The comparison constitutive models shows that macroscopic properties, porosity permeability, present strongest differences due changes geometry. Nonetheless, no relative effective saturation permeability. has been tested experimental data consisting sets porosity-permeability, content-pressure head, conductivity-pressure hysteretic values. all cases, able satisfactorily reproduce data. presents an improvement over smoother variation radii allows more realistic representation medium.