Performance of the Tensiometer Method for the Determination of Soil-Water Retention Curves in Various Soils

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 20200196
Author(s):  
Paul Francois le Roux ◽  
Schalk Willem Jacobsz
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Soil Water Retention

A new procedure for the determination of soil-water retention curves by continuous drying using high-suction tensiometers

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D.N. Lourenço ◽  
D. Gallipoli ◽  
D. G. Toll ◽  
C. E. Augarde ◽  
F. D. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Mass Measurements ◽  
Discrete Measurement ◽  
Wetting Process ◽  
High Suction

Soil-water retention curves (SWRCs) can be determined using high-suction tensiometers (HSTs) following two different procedures that involve either continuous or discrete measurement of suction. In the former case, suction measurements are taken while the sample is permanently exposed to the atmosphere and the soil is continuously drying. In the latter case, the drying or wetting process is halted at different stages to ensure equalization within the sample before measuring suction. Continuous drying has the advantage of being faster; however, it has the disadvantage that the accuracy of mass measurements (necessary for the determination of water content) is affected by the weight and stiffness of the cable connecting the HST to the logger. To overcome this problem, an alternative continuous drying procedure is presented in this paper in which two separate but nominally identical samples are used to obtain a single SWRC; one sample is used for the mass measurements, while a second sample is used for suction measurements. It is demonstrated that the new continuous drying procedure gives SWRCs that are similar to those obtained by discrete drying.

scholarly journals Modeling the soil-water retention curves for highly deforming soils

2021 ◽  
Vol 337 ◽  
pp. 02003
Author(s):  
Eduardo Rojas ◽  
Jaime Horta ◽  
María de la Luz Pérez-Rea
Keyword(s):  
Pore Size ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Soil Deformation ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Pore Size Distributions ◽  
Wetting Curve ◽  
Drying Curve

A porous-solid model based on the grain and pore size distributions of the soil is coupled with a mechanical model to simulate the soil-water retention curves while the material is deforming. During the determination of the main drying curve, the soil is subjected to high suctions which induce important volumetric deformations. These volumetric deformations modify the pore size distribution of the sample affecting both the drying and the wetting retention curves. Although, most deformation occurs at drying, the drying curve is only slightly affected by soil deformation. In contrast, the wetting curve shows important shifting when volume change is considered.

scholarly journals Definition and experimental determination of a soil-water retention surface

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 609-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Salager ◽  
M. S. El Youssoufi ◽  
C. Saix
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Void Ratio ◽  
Silty Sand ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Initial Void Ratio ◽  
Hydromechanical Behaviour ◽  
Determination Methods

This paper deals with the definition and determination methods of the soil-water retention surface (SWRS), which is the tool used to present the hydromechanical behaviour of soils to highlight both the effect of suction on the change in water and total volumes and the effect of deformation with respect to the water retention capability. An experimental method is introduced to determine the SWRS and applied to a clayey silty sand. The determination of this surface is based on the measurement of void ratio, suction, and water content along the main drying paths. These paths are established for five different initial states. The experimental results allow us to define the parametric equations of the main drying paths, expressing both water content and void ratio as functions of suction and initial void ratio. A model of the SWRS for clayey silty sand is established in the space (void ratio – suction – water content). This surface covers all possible states of the soil inside the investigated range for the three variables. Finally, the SWRS is used to study the relations between water content and suction at a constant void ratio and between void ratio and suction at a constant water content.

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