• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Numerical stability analysis of an unsaturated infinite slope under rainfall-induced infiltration conditions was performed using generalized effective stress to unify both saturated and unsaturated conditions The soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) of sand with a relative density of 75% was initially measured for both drying and wetting processes. The hydraulic conductivity function (HCF) and suction stress characteristic curve (SSCC) were subsequently estimated. Under the rainfall-induced infiltration conditions, transient seepage analysis of an unsaturated infinite slope was performed using the finite element analysis program, SEEP/W. Based on these results, the stability of an unsaturated infinite slope under rainfall-induced infiltration conditions was examined in relation to suction stress. According to the results, the negative pore-water pressure and water content within the slope soil changed over time due to the infiltration. In addition, the variation of the negative pore-water pressure and water content led to a variation in suction stress and a subsequent change in the slope's factor of safety during the rainfall period.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.281-295
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• 2010

A new, automated apparatus is proposed for calculating the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC), representing a simple and easily applied testing device for continuous measurements of the volumetric water content and suction of unsaturated soils. The use of this apparatus helps to avoid the errors that arise when performing experiments. Consequently, the apparatus provides greater accuracy in calculating the SWCC of unsaturated soils. The apparatus is composed of a pressure panel, flow cell, water reservoir, air bubble trap, balance, sample-preparation accessories, and measurement system, among other components. The air pressure can attain 300 kPa, and a general test can be completed in a short time. The apparatus can simply control the drying process and wetting process. The changes in volumetric water content that occur during the drying and wetting processes are shown directly in the SWRC program, in real time. As a case study, we performed an SWCC test of Joomunjin sand (75% relative density) to measure matric suction and volumetric water content during both the drying and wetting processes. The test revealed hysteresis behavior, whereby the water content on the wetting curve is always lower than that on the drying curve for a specific matric suction, during the wetting and drying processes. Based on the test results, SWCCs were estimated using the Brooks and Corey, van Genuchten, and Fredlund and Xing models. The van Genuchten model performed best for the given soil conditions, as it yielded the highest coefficient of determination.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2003

The suction of unsaturated soil is one of the important variables to influence on volume change behavior. This research was performed to analyze the soil-water characteristic of decomposed granite soils in Chung Cheong area, and showed relationship with grain-size distribution. Empirical parameters a, n, m are main variables that can be used in the empirical equations in order to predict unsaturated soil. Decomposed granite soils is taken at 12 field, and redistributed due to a, n, m parameters. The result of Extractor test is showed that matric suction is effected by the grain-size distribution curve's left-right location, degree of an angle and fine contents of a soil.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.55-64
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• 2003

Desiccation of a soil is basically the removal of water by evaporation, which is controlled by evaporativity and evaporability. Surface evaporation improves the trafficability which is essential for the access of construction equipment in the area reclaimed with soft clay. The existing traditional methods for evaluating evaporation can not account for the deformation of reclaimed soft soils during evaporation. Therefore, a theoretical model for predicting the rate of evaporation from the surface of a deformable material is proposed. The model is based on a system of equations for coupled heat and mass transfer in unsaturated soils. The modified pressure plate extractor test and glass desiccator test were carried out to obtain the soil-water characteristic curve for a deformable soil. The column drying test was conducted to investigate one dimensional water flow, heat flow and evaporation in the surface. A finite difference program was developed to solve the coupled nonlinear partial differential equations, which permit the study of water, vapor and heat flows in the deformable soil. Comparison between measured and simulated values shows a reasonably good matching between the two.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.637-644
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• 2022

Loess soils are unsaturated and widely distributed in the northwest zone in China. Many steep slope of unsaturated are observed are observed to be naturally stable. However, a low factor of safety (FoS) for these slopes would be computed from the slope stability analysis following local code practices. It seems that the analyzed results following the local code practices do not agree with the real condition as observed in the field. It is commonly known that soil suction plays an important role in slope stability due to a higher shear strength of the unsaturated soil as compared with that of the saturated soil. In this paper, it is observed that the computed FoS can also be affected by unsaturated unit weight of the soil. However, the effect of unsaturated unit weight of the soil on the slope stability is commonly ignored in engineering practice. Therefore, both the effects of shear strength and unit weight of the unsaturated soil on the computed FoS of unsaturated soil slope are investigated in this study. It is observed that the unsaturated unit weight of soil on the computed FoS increases with increase in slope angle. It is also observed that the effects of the unsaturated shear strength and unsaturated unit weight on the computed FoS are more significant than the effect of 3D analyses compared to the 2D analyses on the FoS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.966-972
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• 2009

Soil-aggregate system in pavement foundations exist in unsaturated conditions. However, change in water content on foundation layers due to joint and structural cracks during rainfall may cause problems like layer deformations or partial settlements. Therefore, a need exist to evaluate the infiltration and drainage capacity of soil-aggregate foundation system under both saturated and unsaturated conditions. To do that, a laboratory soil-water characteristic curve and permeability under unsaturated conditions are assessed to establish hydraulic properties of geomaterials and limited numerical analysis are performed respectively. As a result, it was found that suction profiles and drainage process was greatly influenced by the initial suction of soil-aggregate system at the time of infiltration, soil water characteristics curves, and hysteresis effects.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.55-66
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• 2012

To investigate the hysteresis of the suction stress in unsaturated weathered mudstone soils (CL), matric suction and volumetric water content were measured in both drying and wetting processes using Automated Soil-Water Characteristics Curve Apparatus. The drying and wetting processes in unsaturated soils were reproduced in the test; the drying process means to load matric suction to spill pore water from the soils, and the wetting process means to unload matric suction to inject pore water into the soils. Based on the measured result, Soil Water Characteristic Curve(SWCC)s were estimated by van Genuchten model (1980). SWCCs have nonlinear relationship between effective degree of saturation and matric suction. The hysteresis in SWCCs between drying and wetting processes occurred. As a result of estimating Suction Stress Characteristic Curve(SSCC) using Lu and Likos model (2006), the suction stress rapidly increased in the low level of matric suction and then increased slightly. Also, the hysteresis in SSCCs between drying and wetting processes occurred. In order to design geo-structures and check its stability considering unsaturated soil mechanics, therefore, it is more reasonable that the SSCC of drying process should be applied in the condition of rainfall infiltration and the SSCC of wetting process in the condition of evaporation or drainage.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.1C
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• pp.53-63
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• 2010

Since the water retention curve is considered as a major parameter to evaluate the unsaturated ground or soils, overburden pressure and clay content on soils underneath ground surface have not been considered for estimating water retention characteristics. Therefore, a need exists that the effect of overburden pressure and clay content on water retention characteristics was assessed in typical weathered soils found in Korea. Soil-Water Characteristic Curve and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity were estimated using water retention characteristics under the condition of different overburden pressure, clay content, and de-saturation path. Then, these effects are evaluated with the results of SWCC tests from the laboratory. In addition to that, the unsaturated moisture capacity and diffusivity of each case is discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.15-21
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• 2000

본 논문은 체적이 변하는 흙에 대하여 새로운 흙-수분 특성곡선 이론을 제시하고 이를 실험적으로 규명하였다. 그 결과, 점토와 같이 불포화되는 과정중 체적변형이 발생하는 흙의 흙-수분 특성곡선은 간극비와 흡인력의 함수이므로 체적변화를 무시할 수 없음이 밝혀졌다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 체적변화가 있는 경우 흙-수분특성곡선을 구하기 위하여 두가지 실험법을 채택하였다. 그 첫째는 전통적인 압력판 추출시험과, 중량함수비와 간극비와의 관계를 알 수 있는 수축한계시험을 실시하여 조합하는 방법이며, 둘째 방법은 압력판 셀을 새로인 고안하여 추출시험시에 체적 수축도 측정할 수 있는 수정된 압력판 셀 시험방법을 이용하는 것이다. 이 시험결과를 3차원 상의 면(surface)에서 표현하여, 체적변형을 고려한 흙-수분 특성을 규명할수 있도록 하였다.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.5C
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• pp.191-198
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• 2009

It has been reported in Korea that surface slope failures in weathered soil are mainly caused by downward infiltration due to rainfall. These failures are triggered by the deepening of the wetting band in soils accompanied by a decrease in matric suction induced by the water infiltration. So, a need exists that these trends of wetting path in gneiss weathered soils, which is commonly found in Korea, are assessed by phenomenological approach. In this paper, numerical analyses of unsaturated soil slope under rainfall conditions are presented based on the wetting path soil-water characteristic curve in the laboratory. As the field SWCC matches well with the wetting path of the laboratory SWCC from the literatures, it seems reasonable to adopt the laboratory wetting SWCC as an upper boundary condition in the assessment of unsaturated slope instability.