Abstract
The mathematical equation for the moisture-suction relationship also known as soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) is one of the constitutive relations necessary for the computational modeling of deformation and flow problems of unsaturated soil using the finite element method. In this paper, a new empirical equa-tion for the SWCC is developed that incorporates the actual airentry suction and the maximum possible suction of the soil as input parameters. The capability of the new model is investigated by fitting the experimental data for twelve different soils that includes sands, silts, and clays. The model fits the experimental data well including in high suction range which is one of the difficulties observed in other commonly used models such as the Brooks and Corey, van Genuchten, and Fredlund and Xing models. The numerical stability and the performance of the new model at low and high degrees of saturations in finite element simulation are investigated by simulating the dynamic response of a compacted embankment and the results are compared with similar predictions made using widely used SWCC models.
Highlights
In recent years, the importance of unsaturated soil mechanics and its applications in the design and constructions of safe and economical geotechnical engineering structures is realized by the academic researchers and by practicing engineers
The numerical stability and the performance of the new model at low and high degrees of saturations in finite element simulation are investigated by simulating the dynamic response of a compacted embankment and the results are compared with similar predictions made using widely used soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) models
The major difference between unsaturated and saturated soil mechanics is the influence of matric suction on its behavior, that is to say the mechanical and flow characteristics of unsaturated soil are affected by matric suction [1]
Summary
The importance of unsaturated soil mechanics and its applications in the design and constructions of safe and economical geotechnical engineering structures is realized by the academic researchers and by practicing engineers. The moisture-suction relationship affects the flow and deformation characteristics of the soil body because suction is one of the two stress state variables widely used in the deformation analysis of unsaturated soils These mathematical relationships must represent the true physics of the problem (material, boundary condition and loading) more closely for accurate predictions. The new empirical equation for the moisture-suction relationship presented in this paper seems capable of matching the measured data of various soils over a wide range of degree of saturation (near dry to fully saturated conditions). It can be used either with residual water content (the lower bound value for the water potential) or with a maximum suction value (the upper bound value for the suction) at near dry conditions. The performance and the stability of the proposed moisture-suction model in the finite element modeling of unsaturated soils is investigated by simulating the dynamic behavior of a compacted embankment subjected to earthquake shaking at a low degree of saturation
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