Papers by Keyword: Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC)

Abstract: As the complexity of unsaturated soil theory, and it must have a long test period when we study the unsaturated soils, so the conventional design analysis software does not provide such analysis, so we can imagine that such a slope stability analysis does not accurately reflect the actual state of the slope. Based on the known soil moisture content，this paper use the soil water characteristic curve and strength theory of unsaturated soil to calculate the strength reduction parameters of soil which can calculate the stability of the soil slope when using the common calculation method. It is noticeable that this method can be extended and applied if we establish regional databases for this simple method, and these databases can improve the accuracy of the calculation of slope stability.

Abstract: With the improved triaxial equipment, the tests of research of the relationships between matrix suction and water content are performed And based on the test data, the curves between matrix suction and water contents under different confining pressures are drawn and the change rule between them are analyzed. And then the function between them is simulated out. Through the soil-water characteristic curve, the permeability coefficient of unsaturated soil can be calculated and the shear strength of unsaturated soil can be predicted. These results are important to research the engineering properties of unsaturated soil.

Abstract: The shear strength value of unsaturated loess is required in the design in geotechnical engineering in the North and the North West of China. In 2004, a new method, that is the fractal model theory, was proposed for determining the shear strength of unsaturated soil. Based upon the fractal model theory, the surface fractal dimension DS and the air entry value of two unsaturated loess samples are obtained from their soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC), the shear strength contribution due to matric suction of the two loess samples is determined, a new approach for determination of the shear strength of unsaturated loess with its SWCC is presented. By comparing results of this paper with those of the laboratory tests, the relationship between the SWCC and the shear strength of unsaturated loess is discussed and the validity of the fractal model theory for unsaturated loess is explained.

Abstract: In this paper, the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC)of Xinjiang Altay bentonite under different stress states, different initial dry density and different initial water content has been tested by dialysis method and vapor phase method, and the impact of the various factors on the water retention characteristics of Xinjiang Altay bentonite has been analyzed comprehensively. The mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test has been carried out on the soil sample, and then the SWCC is predicted by the Pore size distribution(PSD)curve which is got from the MIP test. Finally, the predicted SWCC is compared with the measured SWCC, and it shows that the predicted SWCC is close to the measured values, but there are deviations in the high suction.

Abstract: Geotechnical engineers have become increasingly aware of salt damages caused by water-salt migration.The soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) is a very important tool for determining the engineering properties of unsaturated soil. Using pressure plate extractors, This paper carried out a research on soil-water characteristics of saline soil in northwest China. Then, The relationship between matrix suction and water content was analyzed, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in different water content was calculated through predicting model of Van Genuchten(1980). Based on the measurement and calculation, the correlation between unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and water content was established. Research results show that unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of saline soil decreases in non-linear trend with the water content reducing, while it decline linearly by a certain specific rate with the matrix suction increasing at a high-suction section (100kpa ~ 100000kpa) in double logarithmic coordinates.

Abstract: In order to research matrix suction how to influence the shear strengt of unsaturated silty sand. Based on the analysis of the Soil-water characteristic of unsaturated silty sand through pressure plate instrument test,the suction control direct shear tests under the different suction condition of unsaturated silty sand are studied. And then, the microscopic structure of two kinds soil sample with different water content are scanned to analyze the relationship between the matrix suction and the shear strengt of unsaturated silty sand. The results of the research show that unsaturated silty sand different from unsaturated clayey soil.When water content gradually reduce, the soil shear strength of unsaturated silty sand is not always increased with the increase of matrix suction, but there is a "peak effect".The appearance of "peak effect" is due to unsaturated silty sand has own microstructure characteristics.On the other hand, when the moisture content reduction constantly,the existence form of moisture change gradually.The two factors lead to the effect area of matrix suction change constantly,and then influence shear strengt of unsaturated silty sand to appear "peak effect". In addition,the stress environment also can influence contribution degree of matrix suction to the shear strengt of unsaturated silty sand.

Abstract: Constitutive modeling in unsaturated soil is always a big challenge in Geo-technique problems. Since Alonso et al suggested the Basic Barcelona Model (BBM) in 1990. Many researchers contribute works on constitutive models in last two decades. The SFG model presented by Sheng, Fredlund and Gens describes the mechanical and hydraulic behaviors of an unsaturated soil accurately. It is currently considered the most reasonable model for unsaturated soil. In this paper, the authors attempts to prove the volume change behavior in SFG model by two basic unsaturated soil experiments in testing two different soils. The experimental data and the fitting processes are provided.

Abstract: Soil-water characteristic curve describes the relationship between suction and volumetric water content of unsaturated soils. Air-enter have great influence on the drying scanning curves while the starting points of the scanning curve were at the highly saturated range. Based on capillary hysteresis internal variable model and conventional soil-water characteristics theory of unsaturated soils, a modified model which can simulate soil-water characteristic relationship that could consider the influence of air-enter is proposed. The influence of the air-enter on the drying scanning curves while the starting points were at the highly saturated range could be considered while this model is used. Numerical calculations are carried out on several kinds of soils. The simulating results show that the modified model is able to simulate the drying scanning curves while the starting points of the scanning curve were at the highly saturated range better than the capillary hysteresis internal variable model does.

Abstract: The soil-water characteristic curve is an important constitutive feature of unsaturated soils, defining the relationship between the soil suction and moisture content. Mineral component and pore space topology are the most important physical factors affecting the soil-water characteristic, and that dry density synthetically reflects the mineral component and pore space topology. Compaction is a classical application involving unsaturated soil, and dry density represents the pore structure at special moisture content. Soil water characteristic curve for compacted loess is studied by test, and the effect of dry density on soil water characteristic curve is discussed. Based the soil-water characteristic curve and compaction curve, mechanism of compaction is explained. Research results show that the soil-water characteristic curves for all dry density soil intersect at the point, which is optimize moisture content, and suction is the most important factor affecting the compaction.

Abstract: A mathematical model for the soil-water characteristic curve is proposed in the light of bounding surface plasticity. The main drying and wetting curves are taken as the asymptotes of the scanning curves, and only one additional parameter is introduced to simulate such scanning curves. To pave to the way for the application of the proposed model, the governing equation of unsaturated seepage problems and the finite element formulations are derived. A FEM program incorporating the SWCC model is then developed and used to study the hydraulic behaviour of an earth dam undergoes a repeated change of reservoir level. Numerical results confirm the possibility and necessity of using such a hysteresis model in unsaturated seepage problems.