Applicability Evaluation of the Characteristics Equation for a Coefficient of Permeability of Unsaturated Soils

불포화토의 투수계수 방정식의 적용성 평가

In order to treat flow problems for an unsaturated soils, it is required the mediation of the coefficient of permeability with variation of suction. The coefficient of permeability for soils can be determined by the direct or indirect methods. The direct methods of permeability can be performed either in the laboratory or in the field. The indirect methods can be predicted from the soil-water characteristics curve. Laboratory test methods to measure the coefficient of permeability can be categorized into two types, steady-state and unsteady-state. In this study, the coefficient of permeability for unsaturated soils was determined by the modified apparatus for steady state-method(Klute, 1972) and was predicted from the equations of Brooks and Corey(1964) and Van Genuchten(1980). Experimental results were compared with predicted coefficient of permeability and verified applicability of the two equations.