Hysteretic Model for the Evolution of Water Retention Curve with Void Ratio
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143, Issue 7
Abstract
This paper presents a model for the evaluation of the void ratio dependency of water retention curve (WRC) in deformable porous media. Models currently available in the literature for this purpose are primarily empirical in nature and rely on extensive laboratory testing for parameter identification. The approach proposed requires no additional parameters and enables quantification of the dependency of WRC on void ratio solely based on the form of WRC at the reference void ratio. Particular attention is given to the effect of hydraulic hysteresis on the evolution process, an aspect rarely addressed in the literature. Incremental expressions are presented for the evolution of main drying, main wetting, and scanning curves due to loading and change in the hydraulic path from scanning to main wetting/drying and vice versa. Validity of the model is demonstrated using experimental data for a range of compacted and reconstituted soils subjected to various hydro-mechanical paths. Good agreement is obtained between model predictions and experimental data in all the cases considered.
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Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143 • Issue 7 • July 2017
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©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Oct 3, 2016
Accepted: Nov 23, 2016
Published ahead of print: Feb 20, 2017
Published online: Feb 21, 2017
Published in print: Jul 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jul 21, 2017
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