During a laboratory investigation using radiotracers, empirical formulas were developed to replace the ambiguous or incorrect Dupuit‐Forchheimer assumption used in relationships governing the flow of water through porous, unconsolidated materials ranging from clay to coarse sands or fine gravels. The Dupuit‐Forchheimer assumption states that the ratio of specific flow rate to average flow velocity is equal to porosity, but it is not specified whether true porosity or void ratio or specific yield, also called effective porosity, is meant. The hydraulic conductivity shows a good correlation with the maximum 10% grain size, and the ratio of specific flow rate to average flow velocity shows good correlation with functions of specific yield and percentile sorting coefficient. From field measurements of specific flow rate and average flow velocity the specific yield can be computed.

The radioisotope bromine 82 was used to measure the flow of water through a packed sand column. It was shown that the commonly accepted Dupuit-Forchheimer assumption did not apply under these conditions. Some information was also obtained on lateral dispersion using iron gauzes and copper 64 solution. (