Representative elementary volume
Encyclopedia
In hydrogeology
, the representative elementary volume (REV) is the smallest volume over which a measurement can be made that will yield a value representative of the whole. Below REV, the parameter is not defined and the material can not be treated as a continuum.
In order to establish a given porous medium
's properties, we are going to have to measure samples of the porous medium. If the sample is too small, the readings tend to oscillate. As we increase the sample size, the oscillations begin to dampen out. Eventually the sample size will become large enough that we begin to get consistent readings. This sample size is referred to as the representative elementary volume.
If we continue to increase our sample size, measurement will remain stable until the sample size gets large enough that we begin to include other hydrostratigraphic layers. This is referred to as the maximum elementary volume (MEV).
Groundwater flow equation
has to be defined in an REV
Hydrogeology
Hydrogeology is the area of geology that deals with the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil and rocks of the Earth's crust, . The term geohydrology is often used interchangeably...
, the representative elementary volume (REV) is the smallest volume over which a measurement can be made that will yield a value representative of the whole. Below REV, the parameter is not defined and the material can not be treated as a continuum.
In order to establish a given porous medium
Porous medium
A porous medium is a material containing pores . The skeletal portion of the material is often called the "matrix" or "frame". The pores are typically filled with a fluid...
's properties, we are going to have to measure samples of the porous medium. If the sample is too small, the readings tend to oscillate. As we increase the sample size, the oscillations begin to dampen out. Eventually the sample size will become large enough that we begin to get consistent readings. This sample size is referred to as the representative elementary volume.
If we continue to increase our sample size, measurement will remain stable until the sample size gets large enough that we begin to include other hydrostratigraphic layers. This is referred to as the maximum elementary volume (MEV).
Groundwater flow equation
Groundwater flow equation
Used in hydrogeology, the groundwater flow equation is the mathematical relationship which is used to describe the flow of groundwater through an aquifer. The transient flow of groundwater is described by a form of the diffusion equation, similar to that used in heat transfer to describe the flow...
has to be defined in an REV