Two Types of Soil Anisotropy Induced by the Passage of a Wetting Front

Abstract

AbstractDisks of soil were wetted from a point on their diameters. The tensile strength of the soil disks was measured using the Brazilian crushing test. Tensile strength was measured both in the direction of wetting and at right angles to the direction of wetting. These values were different, which indicated that the passage of the wetting front had made the soil anisotropic. The soil tensile strength was smallest either in the direction of wetting or at right angles to it. Some possible consequences of these changes for the processes of formation of natural soil structures are discussed.