Significance of Soil Suction and Soil Water Characteristic Curve Parameters

2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 11845 ◽  
Author(s):  
L David Suits ◽  
TC Sheahan ◽  
GL Sivakumar Babu ◽  
J Peter ◽  
MD Mukesh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Soil Suction ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve

Model for the prediction of shear strength with respect to soil suction

1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
S K Vanapalli ◽  
D G Fredlund ◽  
D E Pufahl ◽  
A W Clifton
Keyword(s):  
Shear Strength ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Matric Suction ◽  
Glacial Till ◽  
Soil Suction ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve

Experimental studies on unsaturated soils are generally costly, time-consuming, and difficult to conduct. Shear strength data from the research literature suggests that there is a nonlinear increase in strength as the soil desaturates as a result of an increase in matric suction. Since the shear strength of an unsaturated soil is strongly related to the amount of water in the voids of the soil, and therefore to matric suction, it is postulated that the shear strength of an unsaturated soil should also bear a relationship to the soil-water characteristic curve. This paper describes the relationship between the soil-water characteristic curve and the shear strength of an unsaturated soil with respect to matric suction. Am empirical, analytical model is developed to predict the shear strength in terms of soil suction. The formulation makes use of the soil-water characteristic curve and the saturated shear strength parameters. The results of the model developed for predicting the shear strength are compared with experimental results for a glacial till. The shear strength of statically compacted glacial till specimens was measured using a modified direct shear apparatus. Specimens were prepared at three different water contents and densities (i.e., corresponding to dry of optimum, and wet of optimum conditions). Various net normal stresses and matric suctions were applied to the specimens. There is a good correlation between the predicted and measured values of shear strength for the unsaturated soil. Key words: soil-water characteristic curve, shear strength, unsaturated soil, soil suction, matric suction.

Equations for the entire soil-water characteristic curve of a volume change soil

2008 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung Q. Pham ◽  
Delwyn G. Fredlund
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Volume Change ◽  
Curve Fitting ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Engineering Practice ◽  
Soil Suction ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve ◽  
Geoenvironmental Engineering ◽  
Type Studies

Numerous curve-fitting equations have been proposed for soil-water characteristic curves. While these equations have been of considerable value in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering, the equations are not able to adequately fit gravimetric soil-water characteristic curve data over the entire range of soil suction for a soil that changes volume when suction is changed. Two new equations for the soil-water characteristic curve are presented in this paper. One equation has curve-fitting parameters that bear a meaningful relationship to conventional physical soil properties (e.g., air-entry value and residual soil suction), but the equation is somewhat complex. The equation is particularly useful for sensitivity type studies when undertaking computer modeling. The other equation is relatively simple to use and is developed as a conventional curve-fitting equation. The two equations are used to best-fit several soil datasets. Both equations perform well and can be used in research and engineering practice to define the gravimetric water content versus soil suction relationship for a soil exhibiting volume change.

Statistical assessment of soil-water characteristic curve models for geotechnical engineering

2001 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1297-1313 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Scott Sillers ◽  
Delwyn G Fredlund
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Akaike Information Criterion ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Soil Suction ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Empirical Equations ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Best Fit

A number of empirical equations have been proposed for the soil-water characteristic curve. A nonlinear, least squares method was used to determine best-fit parameters for several empirical equations that were best-fit to 230 water content versus soil suction data sets. In addition, two proposed correction methods to accommodate high soil suctions up to 1 000 000 kPa were applied to the various soil-water characteristic curve equations. The data sets of water content versus soil suction were arranged into one of the USDA soil classifications based on their relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay (only eight soil classifications had sufficient data for later analysis). The quality of fit for each model was compared using the Akaike Information Criterion. A series of conclusions were arrived at regarding (i) the relationship between two- and three-parameter equations, (ii) the relationship between exponential and sigmoidal type equations, and (iii) the value of correction factors for the high soil suction range.Key words: soil-water characteristic curve, unsaturated soil, soil suction, regression analysis, SWCC models, Akaike Information Criterion.

Estimation of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity using soil suction measurements obtained by an insertion tensiometer

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 476-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
D N Singh ◽  
Sneha J Kuriyan
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Soil Suction ◽  
Soil Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Silty Soil ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve ◽  
Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Hydraulic

To estimate the unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity of a silty soil, an insertion tensiometer has been used for measuring its suction corresponding to different water contents. These suction values have been used for developing the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC). The obtained SWCC has been compared with the trends predicted by various fits available in the literature. Further, with the help of the obtained SWCC, the unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity has been estimated. The study demonstrates the usefulness of insertion tensiometers for measuring soil suction and for estimating its hydraulic conductivity.Key words: silty soil, suction, insertion tensiometer, soil-water characteristic curve, unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity.

Determination and Compare Analysis for Soil Water Characteristic Curve Model in Planting Soil in Saline Region of Tianjin

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 336-341
Author(s):  
Fei CAI ◽  
Xiaohou SHAO ◽  
Zhenyu WANG ◽  
Mingyong HUANG ◽  
Yaming ZHAI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve ◽  
Curve Model ◽  
Compare Analysis

Measurement of Soil Suction and Soil-Water Characteristics of Bentonite-Sand Mixtures

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Hu ◽  
Qing Yang ◽  
Maotian Luan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Vapor Phase ◽  
Unsaturated Soils ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Phase Method ◽  
Soil Suction ◽  
Compacted Bentonite ◽  
Water Characteristics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Level

The soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) is a widely used experimental means for assessing fundamental properties of unsaturated soils for a wide range of soil suction values. The study of SWCC is helpful because some properties of unsaturated soils can be predicted from it. Nowadays, much attention has been paid to the behaviours of highly compacted bentonite-sand mixtures used in engineering barriers for high level radioactive nuclear waste disposal. It is very important to study the various performances of bentonite-sand mixtures in order to insure the safety of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository. After an introduction to vapor phase method and osmotic technique, a laboratory study has been carried out on compacted bentonite-sand mixtures. The SWCC of bentonite-sand mixtures has been obtained and analyzed. The results show that the vapor phase method and osmotic technique is suitable to the unsaturated soils with high and low suction.

The Experiment on Soil Water Characteristic Curve Considering the Effect of Urea Concentration

2014 ◽  
Vol 919-921 ◽  
pp. 795-799
Author(s):  
Gai Qing Dai ◽  
Dong Fang Tian ◽  
Yao Ruan ◽  
Lang Tian ◽  
You Le Wang
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Urea Concentration ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Materials Selection ◽  
Valuable Data ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve ◽  
Concentration Test ◽  
The Impact

A new soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) experiment contemplating urea concentration is presented in the paper. We focus on the impact of the SWCC considering urea concentration test method for materials selection and introduction, experimental results, and finally, we have conducted some experiments of SWCC and obtained some valuable data which could affect urea concentration. By using linear fitting, an exponential function between water content and suction and urea concentration is established.

Soil Water Characteristic Curve and its Applications in Tunnel

2011 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 1039-1043
Author(s):  
Yu You Yang ◽  
Qin Xi Zhang ◽  
Gui He Wang ◽  
Jia Xing Yu
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Land Subsidence ◽  
Unsaturated Soil ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Tunnel Construction ◽  
Coupling Theory ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Soil Water Characteristic Curve ◽  
The Relationship

A soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) can describe the relationship between unsaturated soil matric suction and water content. By analyzing and researching the test data of the soil water characteristic curve researchers can initially establish the SWCC equation and apply this equation to the actual engineering analysis. In another words, this article is based on the fluid-solid coupling theory of unsaturated soil used to analyze and study the problem of land subsidence caused by tunnel construction. Numerical calculations show that the coupling results agree well with the measured curve works.

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