Simple Approaches for Modeling Hysteretic Soil Water Retention Behavior
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 145, Issue 10
Abstract
Hysteretic soil water retention behavior is the key information required for interpreting and predicting the hydromechanical responses of unsaturated soils during drying and wetting processes. For this reason, models capable of describing such behavior are valuable in the development of constitutive relationships for unsaturated soils. In this paper, a model is proposed for predicting the main and scanning soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) (degree of saturation-suction relationships). In addition, the model is extended to another model for predicting the main and scanning soil-water characteristic surfaces (SWCSs) (degree of saturation-void ratio-suction relationships). The proposed models need one extra parameter ( for SWCC or for SWCS), in addition to parameters required for conventional SWCC or SWCS models. The major advantages of the proposed models are as follows: (1) measurements of the main drying and wetting curves or surfaces are the only information required to calibrate all model parameters, (2) model predictions allow a smooth transition from scanning curves or surfaces to the main curves or surfaces, and (3) calibration associated with the parameter or can be further refined using measurements of scanning curves or surfaces to improve the precision of the predictions. The performance of both proposed models was validated against measurements of six different soils ranging from sands to clayey soils. Reasonable agreements between predictions of the proposed models and experimental results are achieved for all soils investigated in this study.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding received from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, Grant Nos. 51779191 and 51809199) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), which supported this study.
References
Alonso, E. E., A. Gens, and A. Josa. 1990. “A constitutive model for partially saturated soils.” Géotechnique 40 (3): 405–430. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.3.405.
Azizi, A., C. Jommi, and G. Musso. 2017. “A water retention model accounting for the hysteresis induced by hydraulic and mechanical wetting-drying cycles.” Comput. Geotech. 87 (Jul): 86–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.02.003.
Baker, R., and S. Frydman. 2009. “Unsaturated soil mechanics. Critical review of physical foundations.” Eng. Geol. 106 (1–2): 26–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.02.010.
Chen, L., G. A. Miller, and T. C. G. Kibbey. 2007. “Rapid pseudo-static measurement of hysteretic capillary pressure-saturation relationships in unconsolidated porous media.” Geotech. Test. J. 30 (6): 100850. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ100850.
Dong, Y., N. Lu, and J. S. McCartney. 2016. “Unified model for small-strain shear modulus of variably saturated soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 142 (9): 04016039. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001506.
Fredlund, D. G. 2006. “Unsaturated soil mechanics in engineering practice.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 132 (3): 286–321. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:3(286).
Fredlund, D. G., and A. Xing. 1994. “Equations for the soil-water characteristic curve.” Can. Geotech. J. 31 (4): 521–532. https://doi.org/10.1139/t94-061.
Gallipoli, D. 2012. “A hysteretic soil-water retention model accounting for cyclic variations of suction and void ratio.” Géotechnique 62 (7): 605–616. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.11.P.007.
Gallipoli, D., S. J. Wheeler, and M. Karstunen. 2003. “Modelling the variation of degree of saturation in a deformable unsaturated soil.” Géotechnique 53 (1): 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.1.105.
Gao, Y., and D. Sun. 2017. “Soil-water retention behavior of compacted soil with different densities over a wide suction range and its prediction.” Comput. Geotech. 91 (Nov): 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.06.016.
Gao, Y., D. Sun, and A. Zhou. 2016. “Hydromechanical behaviour of unsaturated soil with different specimen preparations.” Can. Geotech. J. 53 (6): 909–917. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0381.
Gillham, R. W., A. Klute, and D. F. Heermann. 1976. “Hydraulic properties of a porous medium: Measurement and empirical representation.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 40 (2): 203–207. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1976.03615995004000020008x.
Han, Z., and S. K. Vanapalli. 2016. “Stiffness and shear strength of unsaturated soils in relation to soil-water characteristic curve.” Géotechnique 66 (8): 627–647. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.15.P.104.
Jommi, C. 2000. “Remarks on the constitutive modelling of unsaturated soils.” In Experimental evidence and theoretical approaches in unsaturated soils, 139–153. Rotterdam, Netherlands: A.A. Balkema.
Khorshidi, M., N. Lu, I. D. Akin, and W. J. Likos. 2017. “Intrinsic relationship between specific surface area and soil water retention.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 143 (1): 04016078. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001572.
Kool, J. B., and J. C. Parker. 1987. “Development and evaluation of closed-form expressions for hysteretic soil hydraulic properties.” Water Resour. Res. 23 (1): 105–114. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR023i001p00105.
Likos, W. J., N. Lu, and J. W. Godt. 2014. “Hysteresis and uncertainty in soil water-retention curve parameters.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 140 (4): 04013050. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001071.
Lu, N., M. Kaya, and J. W. Godt. 2014. “Interrelations among the soil-water retention., hydraulic conductivity, and suction-stress characteristic curves.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 140 (5): 04014007. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001085.
Lu, N., and W. J. Likos. 2006. “Suction stress characteristic curve for unsaturated soil.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 132 (2): 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:2(131).
Mbonimpa, M., M. Aubertin, A. Maqsoud, and B. Bussière. 2006. “Predictive model for the water retention curve of deformable clayey soils.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 132 (9): 1121–1132. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2006)132:9(1121).
Mualem, Y., and G. Dagan. 1975. “A dependent domain model of capillary hysteresis.” Water Resour. Res. 11 (3): 452–460. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR011i003p00452.
Mun, W., and J. S. McCartney. 2017. “Constitutive model for drained compression of unsaturated clay to high stresses.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 143 (6): 04017014. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001662.
Muraleetharan, K. K., C. Liu, C. Wei, T. C. G. Kibbey, and L. Chen. 2009. “An elastoplatic framework for coupling hydraulic and mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils.” Int. J. Plast. 25 (3): 473–490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijplas.2008.04.001.
Ng, C. W. W., and Y. W. Pang. 2000. “Experimental investigations of the soil-water characteristics of a volcanic soil.” Can. Geotech. J. 37 (6): 1252–1264. https://doi.org/10.1139/t00-056.
Nuth, M., and L. Laloui. 2008. “Advances in modelling hysteretic water retention curve in deformable soils.” Comput. Geotech. 35 (6): 835–844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2008.08.001.
Patil, U. D., A. J. Puppala, L. R. Hoyos, and A. Pedarla. 2017. “Modeling critical-state shear strength behavior of compacted silty sand via suction-controlled triaxial testing.” Eng. Geol. 231 (Dec): 21–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.10.011.
Pedroso, D. M., and D. J. Williams. 2010. “A novel approach for modelling soil-water characteristic curves with hysteresis.” Comput. Geotech. 37 (3): 374–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2009.12.004.
Pham, H. Q., D. G. Fredlund, and S. L. Barbour. 2003. “A practical hysteresis model for the soil-water characteristic curve for soils with negligible volume change.” Géotechnique 53 (2): 293–298. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.2.293.
Pham, H. Q., D. G. Fredlund, and S. L. Barbour. 2005. “A study of hysteresis models for soil-water characteristic curves.” Can. Geotech. J. 42 (6): 1548–1568. https://doi.org/10.1139/t05-071.
Poulovassilis, A. 1970. “Hysteresis of pore water in granular porous bodies.” Soil Sci. 109 (1): 5–12. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-197001000-00002.
Poulovassilis, A., and E. C. Childs. 1971. “The hysteresis of pore water: The non-independence of domains.” Soil Sci. 112 (5): 301–312. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-197111000-00002.
Rojas, E., M. L. Pérez-Rea, T. López-Lara, J. B. Hernández, and J. Horta. 2015. “Use of effective stresses to model the collapse upon wetting in unsaturated soils.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 141 (5): 04015007. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001251.
Rudiyanto, G., M. Sakai, M. T. van Genuchten, A. A. Alazba, B. I. Setiawan, and B. Minasny. 2015. “A complete soil hydraulic model accounting for capillary and adsorptive water retention, capillary and film conductivity, and hysteresis.” Water Resour. Res. 51 (11): 8757–8772. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR017703.
Salager, S., M. S. El Youssoufi, and C. Saix. 2010. “Definition and experimental determination of a soil-water retention surface.” Can. Geotech. J. 47 (6): 609–622. https://doi.org/10.1139/T09-123.
Sawangsuriya, A., T. B. Edil, and P. J. Bosscher. 2009. “Modulus-suction-moisture relationship for compacted soils in postcompaction state.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 135 (10): 1390–1403. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000108.
Sheng, D., D. G. Fredlund, and A. Gens. 2008. “A new modelling approach for unsaturated soils using independent stress variables.” Can. Geotech. J. 45 (4): 511–534. https://doi.org/10.1139/T07-112.
Simms, P. H., and E. K. Yanful. 2001. “Measurement and estimation of pore shrinkage and pore distribution in a clayey till during soil-water characteristic curve tests.” Can. Geotech. J. 38 (4): 741–754. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-38-4-741.
Sun, D. A., D. C. Sheng, H. B. Cui, and S. W. Sloan. 2007. “A density-dependent elastoplastic hydro-mechanical model for unsaturated compacted soils.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 31 (11): 1257–1279. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.579.
Sun, D. A., W. Sun, and L. Xiang. 2010. “Effect of degree of saturation on mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils and its elastoplastic simulation.” Comput. Geotech. 37 (5): 678–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2010.04.006.
Tarantino, A. 2009. “A water retention model for deformable soils.” Géotechnique 59 (9): 751–762. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.7.00118.
Tarantino, A., and S. Tombolato. 2005. “Coupling of hydraulic and mechanical behaviour in unsaturated compacted clay.” Géotechnique 55 (4): 307–317. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2005.55.4.307.
Topp, G. C. 1971. “Soil water hysteresis in silt loam and clay loam soils.” Water Resour. Res. 7 (4): 914–920. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR007i004p00914.
Tsiampousi, A., L. Zdravkovic, and D. M. Potts. 2013. “A three-dimensional hysteretic soil-water retention curve.” Géotechnique 63 (2): 155–164. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.11.P.074.
Vanapalli, S. K., D. G. Fredlund, and D. E. Pufahl. 1999. “The influence of soil structure and stress history on the soil-water characteristics of a compacted till.” Géotechnique 49 (2): 143–159. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1999.49.2.143.
Vanapalli, S. K., D. G. Fredlund, D. E. Pufahl, and A. W. Clifton. 1996. “Model for the prediction of shear strength with respect to soil suction.” Can. Geotech. J. 33 (3): 379–392. https://doi.org/10.1139/t96-060.
van Genuchten, M. T. 1980. “A closed-form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils.” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 44 (5): 892–898. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x.
Vu, H. Q., and D. G. Fredlund. 2004. “The prediction of one-, two-, and three-dimensional heave in expansive soils.” Can. Geotech. J. 41 (4): 713–737. https://doi.org/10.1139/t04-023.
Wei, C., and M. M. Dewoolkar. 2006. “Formulation of capillary hysteresis with internal state variables.” Water Resour. Res. 42 (7): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004594.
Wheeler, S. J., R. S. Sharma, M. S. R. Buisson, S. J. Wheeler, and R. S. Sharma. 2003. “Coupling of hydraulic hysteresis and stress-strain behaviour in unsaturated soils.” Géotechnique 53 (1): 41–54. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.1.41.
Wijaya, M., and E. C. Leong. 2017. “Modelling the effect of density on the unimodal soil-water characteristic curve.” Géotechnique 67 (7): 637–645. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.15.P.270.
Zhai, Q., and H. Rahardjo. 2012. “Determination of soil-water characteristic curve variables.” Comput. Geotech. 42 (May): 37–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2011.11.010.
Zhai, Q., and H. Rahardjo. 2015. “Estimation of permeability function from the soil-water characteristic curve.” Eng. Geol. 199 (Dec): 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2015.11.001.
Zhang, X., J. Liu, and P. Li. 2010. “Determining the shapes of yield curves for unsaturated soils by modified state surface approach.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 136 (1): 239–247. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000196.
Zhou, A.-N. 2013. “A contact angle-dependent hysteresis model for soil-water retention behaviour.” Comput. Geotech. 49 (Apr): 36–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2012.10.004.
Zhou, A.-N., D. Sheng, and J. P. Carter. 2012. “Modelling the effect of initial density on soil-water characteristic curves.” Géotechnique 62 (8): 669–680. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.10.P.120.
Zhou, A.-N., S. Wu, J. Li, and D. Sheng. 2018. “Including degree of capillary saturation into constitutive modelling of unsaturated soils.” Comput. Geotech. 95 (Mar): 82–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2017.09.017.
Zou, W., Z. Han, S. K. Vanapalli, J. Zhang, and G. Zhao. 2018. “Predicting volumetric behavior of compacted clays during compression.” Appl. Clay Sci. 156 (May): 116–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2018.01.036.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 145 • Issue 10 • October 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 23, 2018
Accepted: May 20, 2019
Published online: Jul 17, 2019
Published in print: Oct 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Dec 17, 2019
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.