A Test Method for Soil−Water Characteristics Curve of Unsaturated Loess in the Full Suction Range

JIANG Ruijun; ZHANG Maosheng; ZHANG Yuhang; FENG Li; SUN Pingping

doi:10.12401/j.nwg.2023097

2023 Vol. 56, No. 3

Article Contents

Article navigation > Northwestern Geology > 2023 > 56(3): 214-222

Next Article Previous Article

JIANG Ruijun, ZHANG Maosheng, ZHANG Yuhang, FENG Li, SUN Pingping. 2023. A Test Method for Soil−Water Characteristics Curve of Unsaturated Loess in the Full Suction Range. Northwestern Geology, 56(3): 214-222. doi: 10.12401/j.nwg.2023097

Citation:

JIANG Ruijun, ZHANG Maosheng, ZHANG Yuhang, FENG Li, SUN Pingping. 2023. A Test Method for Soil−Water Characteristics Curve of Unsaturated Loess in the Full Suction Range. Northwestern Geology, 56(3): 214-222. doi: 10.12401/j.nwg.2023097

A Test Method for Soil−Water Characteristics Curve of Unsaturated Loess in the Full Suction Range

1.
School of Geological Engineering and Surveying, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
2.
Key Laboratory for Geo−Hazards in Loess Area, Ministry of Natural Resources / Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710119, Shaanxi, China
3.
School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 712000, Shaanxi, China

More Information

Corresponding author: ZHANG Maosheng, xjtzms@xjtu.edu.cn

Received Date: 29 December 2022

Revised Date: 12 May 2023

Publish Date: 20 June 2023

Abstract

Abstract

The soil−water characteristic curve is an important parameter which reflects the moisture movement characteristic and mechanical behavior in unsaturated soil. A method is proposed based on vapor sorption analyzer combined with transient water release and imbibition method to determine soil−water characteristic curve in the full suction range. First, the relative humidity and the mass of the sample are continuously measured by VSA, series of discrete data points of matrix suction and volume water content are calculated under drying and wetting paths in the high suction range (7.1×10³ ～ 4.8×10⁵ kPa). Secord, the TRIM inversion process is limited through the residual water content of VSA test results. The accuracy of inversion results of TRIM is increased. Finally, the F&X model is used to smoothly connect the test data from TRIM and VSA. The measurement of suction range of this method is wide (1～10⁶ kPa), the measurement time of this method is short (5～8 days), and the measurement accuracy of the method is high (R²=0.999). In this paper, the method is applied to test soil−water characteristic curve of the loess (L₅) and paleosol (S₅) in Dongzhiyuan, Gansu Province. The results show that the predicted results of this method are consistent with the measured results in the full suction range. The method of determining soil-water characteristic curve of unsaturated soil is fast and effective, and important value in engineering application.
- loess /
- paleosol /
- SWCC /
- full suction range /
- TRIM test /
- VSA test

FullText(HTML)

References

[1]	陈锐, 刘坚, 吴宏伟, 等. 一种装配式新型张力计的研制[J]. 岩土力学, 2013, 34(10): 3028-3032 Google Scholar CHEN Rui, LIU Jian, NG CWW, et al. Development of a new fabricated tensometer [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2013, 34(10): 3028-3032. Google Scholar
[2]	陈辉, 韦昌富, 陈盼, 等. 一种测定非饱和土-水力学参数的方法[J]. 岩土力学, 2010, 31(10): 3348-3353 Google Scholar CHEN Hui, WEI Changfu, CHEN Pan, et al. A method for determining hydraulic parameters of unsaturated soils. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2010, 31(10): 3348-3353. Google Scholar
[3]	谌文武, 贾全全, 童艳梅. 莫高窟壁画地仗土-水特征曲线的测定与拟合[J]. 岩土力学, 2020, 41(5): 1483-1491 Google Scholar CHEN Wenwu, JIA Quanquan, TONG Yanmei. Measurement and curve fitting for soil-waterer characteristic curve of mural plaster at Mogao Grottoes [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2020, 41(5): 1483-1491. Google Scholar
[4]	郭龙, 刘清秉, 王菁莪, 等. 以瞬态方法测试马兰黄土土-水特征曲线试验研究[J]. 长江科学院院报, 2013(11): 67-71 doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-5485.2013.11.013 CrossRef Google Scholar GUO Long, LIU Qingbing, WANG Jinge, et al. Soil-Water Characteristic Curve of Malan Loess by Transient Water Release and Imbibitions Method [J]. Journal of Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute, 2013(11): 67-71. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-5485.2013.11.013 CrossRef Google Scholar
[5]	马田田, 韦昌富, 陈盼等. NaCl溶液对土体持水特性影响的试验研究[J]. 岩土力学, 2015, 36(10): 2831-2836 Google Scholar MA Tiantian, WEI Changfu, CHEN Pan, et al. An experimental study of effect of NaCl solution on soil water characteristics [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2015, 36(10): 2831-2836. Google Scholar
[6]	牛庚, 孙德安, 韦昌富, 等. 全风化泥岩持水特性研究及其预测[J]. 岩土工程学报, 2016, 38(S2): 216-221 doi: 10.11779/CJGE2016S2035 CrossRef Google Scholar NIU Geng, SUN Dean, WEI Changfu, et al. Water retention behaviour of complete-intense weathering mudstone and its prediction [J]. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2016, 38(S2): 216-221. doi: 10.11779/CJGE2016S2035 CrossRef Google Scholar
[7]	孙德安, 张俊然, 吕海波. 全吸力范围南阳膨胀土的土-水特征曲线[J]. 岩土力学, 2013, 34(7): 1839-1846 Google Scholar SUN De an, ZHANG Junran, LÜ Haibo. Soil-water characteristic curve of Nanyang expansive soil in full suction range [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2013, 34(7): 1839-1846. Google Scholar
[8]	叶为民, 白云, 金麒, 等. 上海软土土水特征的室内试验研究[J]. 岩土工程学报, 2006, 28(2): 260-263 doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-4548.2006.02.022 CrossRef Google Scholar YE Weimin, BAI Yun, JIN Qi, et al. Lab experimental study on soil-water characteristics of Shanghai soft clay[J]. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2006, 28(2): 260-263. doi: 10.3321/j.issn:1000-4548.2006.02.022 CrossRef Google Scholar
[9]	伊盼盼, 韦昌富, 魏厚振, 等. 两种快速测定非饱和土水力学参数方法的对比分析[J]. 岩土力学, 2012, 33(7): 2007-2012+2020. Google Scholar YI Panpan, WEI Changfu, WEI Houzhen, et al. Comparison between two methods for quickly determining hydraulic parameters of unsaturated soils [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2012, 33(07): 2007-2012+2020. Google Scholar
[10]	ASTM International. D5298-10. Standard test method for measurement of soil potential (suction) using filter paper [S]. West Conshohocken, United States: ASTM International, 2013. Google Scholar
[11]	Arthur E, Tuller M, Moldrup P, et al. Rapid and Fully Automated Measurement of Water Vapor Sorption Isotherms: New Opportunities for Vadose Zone Research[J]. Educational Technology & Society, 2013, 7(4): 193-200. Google Scholar
[12]	Fredlund D G, Rahardjo H, Fredlund M D. Unsaturated soil mechanics in Engineering practice[M]. John Wiley & Sons, INC, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2012. Google Scholar
[13]	Fredlund D G, and Xing A. Equation for the soil-water characteristic curve [J]. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 1994, 31(4): 521-532. doi: 10.1139/t94-061 CrossRef Google Scholar
[14]	Gardner W R. Some steady-state solutions of the unsaturated moisture flow equation with application to evaporation from a water table [J]. Soil science, 1958, 85(4): 228-232. doi: 10.1097/00010694-195804000-00006 CrossRef Google Scholar
[15]	Genuchten V, Th. M. A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils [J]. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 1980, 44(5): 892-898. doi: 10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x CrossRef Google Scholar
[16]	Haghighi A, Medero G M, Marinho A M, et al.Temperature effects on suction measurement using the filter paper technique [J]. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 2012,35( 1) : 103575 Google Scholar
[17]	Knodel P C, Stannard D I. Tensiometers—Theory, Construction, and Use[J]. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 1992, 15(1): 48–58. Google Scholar
[18]	Lu N, Likos WJ. Unsaturated soil Mechanics[m]. John Wiley & Sons, INC, 2004. Google Scholar
[19]	Likos WJ, Lu N. Automated Humidity System for Measuring Total Suction Characteristics of Clay[J]. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 2003, 26(2): 179-190. Google Scholar
[20]	Mcqueen I S, Miller R F. Approximating soil moisture characteristics from limited data: Empirical evidence and tentative model [J]. Water Resources Research, 1974, 10(3). Google Scholar
[21]	Nam S, Gutierrez M, Diplas P, et al. Comparison of testing techniques and models for establishing the SWCC of riverbank soils [J]. Engineering Geology, 2010, 110(1-2): 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.09.003 CrossRef Google Scholar
[22]	Ryel R, Caldwell M, Yoder C, et al. Hydraulic redistribution in a stand of Artemisia tridentata: evaluation of benefits to transpiration assessed with a simulation model [J]. Oecologia, 2002, 130(2): 173-184. doi: 10.1007/s004420100794 CrossRef Google Scholar
[23]	Sillers W S, Fredlund D G, Zakerzadeh N. Mathematical attributes of some soil—water characteristic curve models [M]. Unsaturated soil concepts and their application in geotechnical practice. Springer, Dordrecht, 2001: 243−283. Google Scholar
[24]	Wayllace A, Lu N. A Transient Water Release and Imbibitions Method for Rapidly Measuring Wetting and Drying Soil Water Retention and Hydraulic Conductivity Functions [J]. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 2012. Google Scholar