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Unsat 2002
Unsat 2002
Unsat 2002
A. S. F. J. Sayo
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ABSTRACT: The relationship between the soil-water content and matric suction is conventionally referred to
as the soil-water characteristic curve, (SWCC). The SWCC is a useful tool in the prediction of the engineering behavior of unsaturated soils. Several equations are available in the literature to mathematically represent
the experimental behavior of the SWCC. Some SWCC equations are based on the assumption that the shape
of the curve is dependent upon pore size distribution. Other equations assume that the SWCC can be estimated from the grain size distribution and the physical properties of soils. This paper discusses the applicability of four different SWCC equations for eleven soils from Brazil. The experimental data of the eleven soils
include residual, colluvial and sedimentary soils from different sites. The studies show that the Gardners
equation is simple and most convenient as it defines the SWCC data of different soils with the smallest number of required curve parameters. In this paper, several parameters that influence the SWCC behavior are also
discussed.
1 INTRODUCTION
Several numerical models for simulating flow behavior through unsaturated porous media have been
proposed in the last two decades, as direct measurements are time consuming and expensive, both with
respect to field and laboratory studies (Bear & Verruijt 1987, van Genuchten 1980 Fredlund & Rahardjo 1993). Several numerical models/empirical
functions are available in the literature for predicting
the flow behavior in unsaturated soils. In all these
functions, it is a common engineering practice to use
the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) as a tool.
The SWCC data is used in the form of a mathematical equation in the numerical models/empirical functions.
This paper evaluates the suitability of using four
different SWCC equations for defining the relationship between water content and soil suction of
eleven Brazilian soils. Also, various parameters that
influence the SWCC behavior are briefly discussed.
2 SOIL-WATER CHARACTERISTIC CURVE
The soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) is the
relationship between the soil suction and the volume
of water in the soil pores. The water content can be
established in volumetric () or gravimetric ()
terms or, alternatively expressed by the degree of
Volumetric
water content (
Clayey soil
Compacted soil
Silty soil
Undisturbed
soil
Sandy soil
Suction ((log scale)
(a)
(b)
Desorption
curve
r
Adsortion
curve
Third International Conference on Unsaturated Soils - UNSAT2002, maro, Recife, ISBN 90 58093727 v.1, p295-300.
1
1 n
(1)
n
1
(2)
This equation includes an additional curve parameter (m), which gives more flexibility for curve
fitting. The author suggests that m=1-1/n.
Haverkamp & Parlange (1986) proposed equations for non-shrinking non-organic sandy soils. The
authors considered a shape similarity between the
SWCC and the cumulative particle-size distribution
function. In the authors approach, a hysteretic
model is associated to the Brooks-Corey (1964)
equation, assuming a null value for r. The Haverkamp-Parlange equations are:
i) Adsorption curve:
n b
b b
n 1
(3)
n b 1 b 1 s b
n
s b
(4)
4 EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Several researches carried out laboratory tests to determine the SWCC for Brazilian soils (Table 1).
Most tests made use of tension plate devices for low
soil suction range ( < 100kPa) and pressure cells
for higher matric suction values. In these tests, suction values are imposed and the corresponding equilibrium soil water contents were measured.
Table 1 presents all test sites considered in this
paper and Table 2 summarizes soil characterization
results from all sites. The residual soils are predominantly sandy, while colluvial soils have a higher percentage of clay fraction due to weathering processes.
The sedimentary soils at So Carlos site were obtained from two different depths (3m-Test #9 and
5m-Test #10). At this same site, a residual soil was
also investigated (8m-Test #5).
Table 1. Test sites description.
Test
#
1
2
3
4
Soil
Site
Reference
residual
Vista Chinesa, RJ
Querosene, RJ
Lagoa, RJ
Salvador, BA
Delgado, 1993
Souza, 1995
Fonseca, 1991
Machado & Lima
Jr, 2001
Machado & Vilar,
1998
Oliveira et al, 2001
Delgado, 1993
Souza, 1995
Machado & Vilar,
1998
Peixoto et al, 2001
s b
ln(1 r )
s
1
ln(1 o r ) ln[e / a n
(5)
6
7
8
9
10
11
So Carlos, SP
Porto Alegre, RS
Vista Chinesa, RJ
Querosene, RJ
sedimentary So Carlos, SP
So Carlos, SP
Brasilia, DF
colluvial
Test #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
N
6
7
5
5
16
9
8
8
16
16
7
n
(%)
55.0
48.0
54.0
52.0
39.0
46.0
54.0
59.0
50.0
46.0
59.5
(%)
52.0
44.0
49.0
52.0
39.0
41.0
54.0
59.0
47.0
43.0
45.0*
(%)
10.0
7.0
7.0
20.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
20.0
15.0
18.0
18.0
(kPa)
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
Resultado experimental
1 N
i
i
N i 1
(6)
Third International Conference on Unsaturated Soils - UNSAT2002, maro, Recife, ISBN 90 58093727 v.1, p295-300.
n
Error
Soil
Site
Vista Chinesa 0.22
0.58
0.63
Residual
Querosene
0.17
0.68
0.47
0.78
Lagoa
0.04
1.65
Salvador
0.01
0.29
0.37
So Carlos
0.10
0.70
0.69
Porto Alegre 0.12
0.50
0.91
Colluvial
Vista Chinesa 0.82
0.72
0.71
Querosene
0.40
0.60
0.66
0.54
0.76
0.80
Sedimentary San Carlos
San Carlos
0.15
0.76
0.86
Brasil
0.03
0.39
0.58
(b) van Genuchten Equation
Soil
Site
Residual
Vista Chinesa
Querosene
Lagoa
Salvador
So Carlos
Porto Alegre
Colluvial
Vista Chinesa
Querosene
Sedimentary So Carlos
So Carlos
Brasilia
m
0.29
Error
0.72
0.68
0.06
0.46
0.53
1.00
1.45
1.80
1.20
1.36
1.20
0.33
0.70
0.13
0.32
0.25
0.90
1.09
0.79
0.80
1.16
1.80
1.60
0.38
0.54
1.50
1.30
0.60
0.45
1.70
1.40
1.60
0.60
0.28
0.40
0.32
0.38
0.57
0.46
0.77
0.32
Error
4.00
1.47
55.0
0.54
2.20
0.99
13.70
11.30
8.03
1.81
7.19
n
1.00
1.18
2.20
0.60
1.20
1.00
3.90
2.10
1.30
1.30
0.50
Gardner
van Genuchten
Fredlund & Xing
n
1.50
a(kPa)
0.70
1.50
12.00
3.00
1.50
1.20
0.80
1.00
0.50
1.30
1.10
0.86
Soil
Site
Residual
Vista Chinesa 0.23
Querosene
0.22
Lagoa
0.20
Salvador
0.06
So Carlos
0.16
Porto Alegre 0.13
Colluvial
Vista Chinesa 0.24
Querosene
0.22
Sedimentary So Carlos
0.22
So Carlos
0.14
Brasilia
0.14
Error Computarizado ()
4
12
6
8
Numero de Prueba
10
5m
40
30
20
3m
10
0
10-1
100
101
102
103
104
m
0.72
0.80
0.95
0.36
0.43
0.47
0.39
0.40
0.53
0.41
0.47
Error
0.86
1.01
1.58
0.65
0.76
1.27
0.62
0.87
0.68
0.77
0.51
6 CONCLUSIONES
Las ecuaciones propuestas por Gardner (1958), van
Genuchten (1980) y Fredlund & Xing (1994) pueden
utilizarse para proporcionar una buena estimacin de la
SWCC para los suelos de Brasil. Ecuacin de Gardner
requiere el menor nmero de constantes y por lo tanto parece
ser la ms conveniente.
102
5m
100
10-2
10-1
100
101
102
Succion (, kPa)
103
104
AGRADECIMIENTOS
Los autores con gratitud agradecen a UERJ por
patrocinar al estudiante de estudiante, Michelle Guedes, que
se ha contribuido considerablemente a este proyecto de
investigacin.
REFERENCIAS
Aubertin, M; Ricard, " f de j " y Chapuis, R.P. 1998. Un modelo
Proftico para la curva de retencin de agua: uso a tailings
de minas de roca duro. Puede. Geot. J., 35: 55-69.
Brooks, R.H. & Corey, A.T. 1964. Hidrulica Propiedades de
medios porosos, Hydrol. Papel 3. Universidad Estatal de
Colorado.