01155763

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2170-13

http://scholar.google.com...ulut&publication_year=2010

This paper presents a unified testing approach for measuring drying and wetting diffusion coefficients for unsaturated soil in the laboratory. Transient moisture flow in an unsaturated soil in response to suction changes is controlled by the unsaturated moisture diffusion coefficient. The moisture diffusion coefficient can be determined by measuring suction profiles over time. The laboratory testing approach involves measurement of the total suction changes with time with thermocouple psychrometers in cylindrical soil specimens with predetermined boundary conditions. The determination of the diffusion coefficient by this method is simple and relatively rapid and can be carried out on a routine basis in a geotechnical engineering laboratory. It is well-known that soils exhibit hysteresis with drying and wetting cycles. A similar hysteresis has been observed between the drying and wetting diffusion parameters for a number of undisturbed soil samples obtained from field borings across Oklahoma. The wetting diffusion coefficients are generally greater than the drying diffusion coefficients by a factor of up to 2.

01320946

10-1343

English

pp 109-118

2010

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309160391

Print

Figures (4) ; Photos (5) ; References (16) ; Tables (3)

Diffusivity; Laboratory tests; Psychrometers; Soil mechanics; Soil suction; Soil water; Unsaturated soils; Wetting and drying tests

Diffusion coefficients

Oklahoma

Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 25 2010 10:36AM

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