A novel framework for deriving water retention behavior of multimodal unsaturated soils based on pore size distribution data

The soil water retention curve (SWRC) strongly influences the hydro-mechanical properties of unsaturated soils. It plays a decisive role in geotechnical and geo-environmental applications in the vadose zone. This paper advances a novel framework to derive the water retention behavior of multimodal d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta geotechnica 2024-12, Vol.19 (12), p.8071-8088
Main Authors: Yan, Wei, Cudmani, Roberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Complex Fluids and Microfluidics
Deformation effects
Engineering
Evolution
Formability
Foundations
Geoengineering
Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences
Hydraulics
Mechanical properties
Microstructure
Moisture content
Pore size
Pore size distribution
Research Paper
Retention
Size distribution
Soft and Granular Matter
Soil
Soil mechanics
Soil properties
Soil Science & Conservation
Soil structure
Soil suction
Soil types
Soil water
Solid Mechanics
Statistical analysis
Unsaturated soils
Vadose water
Void ratio
Water
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Summary:The soil water retention curve (SWRC) strongly influences the hydro-mechanical properties of unsaturated soils. It plays a decisive role in geotechnical and geo-environmental applications in the vadose zone. This paper advances a novel framework to derive the water retention behavior of multimodal deformable soils based on the pore size distribution (PSD) measurements. The multiple effects of suction on the soil pore structure and total volume during SWRC tests are considered. The complete picture of soil microstructure is quantitatively described by the void ratio (for the pore volume) and a newly defined microstructural state parameter (for pore size distribution) from a probabilistic multimodal PSD model. Assuming a reversible microstructure evolution, a unique PSD surface for wetting and drying links the SWRC and PSD curves in the pore radius-suction-probability space. A closed-form water retention expression is obtained, facilitating the model's implementation in particle applications. The model is validated using the water retention data of four different soil types, showing a strong consistency between the measurement and the reproduced curve. The proposed method provides new insights into the pore structure evolution, the water retention behavior and the relationship between them for multimodal deformable soils.
ISSN:1861-1125
1861-1133
DOI:10.1007/s11440-024-02355-3