Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Composite Porous Media

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

 This study concentrates on the measurements of the hydraulic conductivity, saturated, ks, and unsaturated, ku, for three types of materials, with different concentrations, using an automated dual method KSAT. The discussions for the presented data are brief, no statistical relevant parameters are presented and the comments related to the comparisons among the materials are basically missing.

The review comments are listed below:

-      Figure 4 illustrates Infiltration vs t^1/2. Please modify or include explanations in the text related to the title.

2     -  Please include relevant references when explaining the behavior of the granular system related to pedogenetics.

3     -   For constant and variable load tests for hydraulic gradients, the authors state that the reproducibility of the data was evaluated. Please give more details and indicate other relevant statistical parameter values besides the arithmetic mean.

4    - Extensive discussions are necessary for Figure 5. Comparison between the different types of Guamo sand types (different concentrations) or Guamo sand with diferent concentrations of Fe₂O₃ and respectively, CaCO₃ should be thoroughly discussed and correlated to the physical behavior of the materials.

5   -   Some English corrections are needed throughout the manuscript (there are several repetitions of similar words „ includes the inclusion...” etc).

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Please see the attached file

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript has been significantly improved with extensive explanations and comments. Thus, the new version is accepted in present form.

Author Response

Dear Editor

Ms. Maram Hmaidan

Assistant Editor

MDPI Open Access Publishing Romania

 

First of all, we want to thank the reviewers for such valuable observations, which undoubtedly resulted in the quality of the article that will be published.

Below we allow ourselves to respond to the comments suggested by the reviewers.

 

Reviewer #2

1. The abstract is written too general. The authors should include their main findings of this study in the abstract

R/ the following paragraph were added in the abstract

                The main findings of this work result in the confirmation that the unsaturated permeability decreases as suction is imposed on the sample. As well as the addition of different materials with Particle Size Distribution finer than the base sample, it also reveals a reduction in hydraulic conductivity, both saturated and unsaturated.

 

 

2. In the introduction, lines 97-111, the authors did not clearly state the research gap. The authors should justify why this study is important and what they are bringing new. Please add the latest scientific work to support the study gap.

R/ the following paragraph were added in the introduction

                The general objective of this investigation is projected to obtain the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, when different levels of suction are imposed and various materials are added to the sand base sample. In this study, the permeability characteristics are analyzed for different combinations of soils to understand the variation of the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic properties by conducting comparative experimental studies (Table 4 and Figure 6). The MDI evaluates ku in granular soils with fine contents and synthetic fractions. Simultaneously, the soil permeability process in the saturated condition is evaluated utilizing conventional permeameters and the dual automated device as a numerical solution subject to analytical comparison discussions

 

3. The objectives of this study are not clear. Please mention your general or main objectives to conduct this study.

R/ the following paragraph were added in the introduction

 

The general objective of this investigation is projected to obtain the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, when different levels of suction are imposed and various materials are added to the sand base sample. In this study, the permeability characteristics are analyzed for different combinations of soils to understand the variation of the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic properties by conducting comparative experimental studies (Table 4 and Figure 6). The MDI evaluates ku in granular soils with fine contents and synthetic fractions. Simultaneously, the soil permeability process in the saturated condition is evaluated utilizing conventional permeameters and the dual automated device as a numerical solution subject to analytical comparison discussions

4. In the introduction, lines 97-111, the authors did not clearly state the research gap. The authors should justify why this study is important and what they are bringing new. Please add the latest scientific work to support the study gap.

R/ Done

 

5. Throughout the manuscript, the authors are inconsistent, the authors…..

R/ Done

 

6. Figure 4: Please move the y-axis label to the right side (next to the values)

R/ Done

7. The authors have added some references to correlate their findings but they are outdated. The authors should discuss the findings with the latest scientific works and justify their outcomes.

R/ Was inserted the references in the discussion

57. 57. Ahmed, A.; Hossain, S. Field Determination of Unsaturated Permeability and Flow Properties through Subgrade Instrumentation. Geosciences 2022, 12(95). https:// doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12020095
58. Fattah, M.; Mahmood, A; Nawar, A. Prediction of Coefficient of Permeability of Unsaturated Soil. Journal of Engineering 2014. University of Baghdad, 20, 33-48.
59. Kai, L.; Xu, L.; Stroeven, P.; Shi, C. Water permeability of unsaturated cementitious materials: A review, Construction and Building Materials, Volume 302, 2021.
60. Minor comments

R/ Done.

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Please see the attachment

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Editor

Ms. Maram Hmaidan

Assistant Editor

MDPI Open Access Publishing Romania

 

First of all, we want to thank the reviewers for such valuable observations, which undoubtedly resulted in the quality of the article that will be published.

Below we allow ourselves to respond to the comments suggested by the reviewers.

 

Reviewer #2

1. The abstract is written too general. The authors should include their main findings of this study in the abstract

R/ the following paragraph were added in the abstract

                The main findings of this work result in the confirmation that the unsaturated permeability decreases as suction is imposed on the sample. As well as the addition of different materials with Particle Size Distribution finer than the base sample, it also reveals a reduction in hydraulic conductivity, both saturated and unsaturated.

 

 

2. In the introduction, lines 97-111, the authors did not clearly state the research gap. The authors should justify why this study is important and what they are bringing new. Please add the latest scientific work to support the study gap.

R/ the following paragraph were added in the introduction

                The general objective of this investigation is projected to obtain the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, when different levels of suction are imposed and various materials are added to the sand base sample. In this study, the permeability characteristics are analyzed for different combinations of soils to understand the variation of the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic properties by conducting comparative experimental studies (Table 4 and Figure 6). The MDI evaluates ku in granular soils with fine contents and synthetic fractions. Simultaneously, the soil permeability process in the saturated condition is evaluated utilizing conventional permeameters and the dual automated device as a numerical solution subject to analytical comparison discussions

 

3. The objectives of this study are not clear. Please mention your general or main objectives to conduct this study.

R/ the following paragraph were added in the introduction

 

The general objective of this investigation is projected to obtain the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, when different levels of suction are imposed and various materials are added to the sand base sample. In this study, the permeability characteristics are analyzed for different combinations of soils to understand the variation of the saturated and unsaturated hydraulic properties by conducting comparative experimental studies (Table 4 and Figure 6). The MDI evaluates ku in granular soils with fine contents and synthetic fractions. Simultaneously, the soil permeability process in the saturated condition is evaluated utilizing conventional permeameters and the dual automated device as a numerical solution subject to analytical comparison discussions

4. In the introduction, lines 97-111, the authors did not clearly state the research gap. The authors should justify why this study is important and what they are bringing new. Please add the latest scientific work to support the study gap.

R/ Done

 

5. Throughout the manuscript, the authors are inconsistent, the authors…..

R/ Done

 

6. Figure 4: Please move the y-axis label to the right side (next to the values)

R/ Done

7. The authors have added some references to correlate their findings but they are outdated. The authors should discuss the findings with the latest scientific works and justify their outcomes.

R/ Was inserted the references in the discussion

57. 57. Ahmed, A.; Hossain, S. Field Determination of Unsaturated Permeability and Flow Properties through Subgrade Instrumentation. Geosciences 2022, 12(95). https:// doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12020095
58. Fattah, M.; Mahmood, A; Nawar, A. Prediction of Coefficient of Permeability of Unsaturated Soil. Journal of Engineering 2014. University of Baghdad, 20, 33-48.
59. Kai, L.; Xu, L.; Stroeven, P.; Shi, C. Water permeability of unsaturated cementitious materials: A review, Construction and Building Materials, Volume 302, 2021.
60. Minor comments

R/ Done.

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx