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An analytical model to predict water retention curves for granular materials using the grain-size distribution curve

Linda Bouacida

Linda Bouacida

Civil Engineering Research Laboratory, Biskra UniversityBiskra, Algeria
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Bouacida, Linda
, 
Sadok Feia

Sadok Feia

Civil Engineering Research Laboratory, Biskra UniversityBiskra, Algeria
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Feia, Sadok
, 
Sid Ali Denine

Sid Ali Denine

Department of Civil Engineering, University Center of Tipaza, Laboratory of Material Science and Environment (LMSE), Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef
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Denine, Sid Ali
 and 
Noureddine Della

Noureddine Della

Laboratory of Material Science and Environment (LMSE), Hassiba Benbouali University of ChlefAlgeria
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Della, Noureddine
  
Dec 10, 2022
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Article Category: Original Study
Published Online: Dec 10, 2022
Page range: 354 - 369
Received: Jan 01, 2022
Accepted: Sep 27, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2022-0025
Keywords
© 2022 Linda Bouacida et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Figure 1

Conceptual diagram showing the effect of (a) median particle size of uniform sand and (b) width of particle size distribution, on the shape of the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) of sand (Craig H. Benson et al. [14]).
Conceptual diagram showing the effect of (a) median particle size of uniform sand and (b) width of particle size distribution, on the shape of the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) of sand (Craig H. Benson et al. [14]).

Figure 2

Conceptual diagram presenting the effect of (a) the median particle size of uniform sand, and (b) the breadth of particle size distribution, on the parameters α and n (Craig H. Benson et al. [12]).
Conceptual diagram presenting the effect of (a) the median particle size of uniform sand, and (b) the breadth of particle size distribution, on the parameters α and n (Craig H. Benson et al. [12]).

Figure 3

Typical soil water retention curve (Toll [59]).
Typical soil water retention curve (Toll [59]).

Figure 4

Explanatory diagram of the drying and wetting processes in the porous network that is composed of cylinders with radius r; rm is the meniscus radius at the air-water interface (Do. [19]).
Explanatory diagram of the drying and wetting processes in the porous network that is composed of cylinders with radius r; rm is the meniscus radius at the air-water interface (Do. [19]).

Figure 5

Schematic representation of the tensiometric method for the measurement of suction (Feia et al. [25]).
Schematic representation of the tensiometric method for the measurement of suction (Feia et al. [25]).

Figure 6

Experimental results used in this study (Feia et al. [25]).
Experimental results used in this study (Feia et al. [25]).

Figure 7

Variation of the degree of residual saturation as a function of the density index.
Variation of the degree of residual saturation as a function of the density index.

Figure 8

Calibration of the model on the basis of the experimental data for a) Sand NEI-1, b) Sand NEI-2, and c) Sand NEI-3
Calibration of the model on the basis of the experimental data for a) Sand NEI-1, b) Sand NEI-2, and c) Sand NEI-3

Figure 9

Evolution of the parameter α as a function of the density index ID.
Evolution of the parameter α as a function of the density index ID.

Figure 10

Evolution of the parameter (n) as a function of the density index ID.
Evolution of the parameter (n) as a function of the density index ID.

Figure 11

Validation of the model through the simulation of a test, with a density index ID=0.9 and uniformity coefficient Cu=1.6.
Validation of the model through the simulation of a test, with a density index ID=0.9 and uniformity coefficient Cu=1.6.

Photo 1

Four types of sand.
Four types of sand.

Figure 12

Grain-size distributions of all four sands obtained by sieve analysis.
Grain-size distributions of all four sands obtained by sieve analysis.

Figure 13

Water retention curves for all four types of sand.
Water retention curves for all four types of sand.

Figure 14

Water retention curves for type 3 sand for different density index values.
Water retention curves for type 3 sand for different density index values.

Figure 15

Pore-access size distributions for all four types of sand.
Pore-access size distributions for all four types of sand.

Figure 16

Effect of sand density index on pore-access size distribution.
Effect of sand density index on pore-access size distribution.

Figure 17

Comparison between the pore-access sizes of four types of sand.
Comparison between the pore-access sizes of four types of sand.

Figure 18

Comparison between the results obtained by the proposed model and those calculated by the law of Della and Feia [47].
Comparison between the results obtained by the proposed model and those calculated by the law of Della and Feia [47].

Values of the parameters of the proposed model for the three types of sand_

Sand NEI-1ID= 0.9 NEI-2ID= 0.7 NEI-3ID= 0.5
Model parameters
α 4.5 3.4 3
n 8.5 7.3 6

Characteristics of the materials to be analyzed_

Sand D50 (mm) Cu emin emax ρs(g/cm3)
Type 1 0.18 1.5 0.51 0.79 2.65
Type 2 0.37 2.85 0.47 0.75 2.65
Type 3 0.42 2.47 0.47 0.76 2.65
Type 4 0.5 5 0.44 0.77 2.65

Characteristics of the used sands_

Sand dg50(μm) Cu emin emax ρs(t/m3)
NE34 206 1.5 0.557 0.884 2.65
Type of sand NEI-1 NEI-2 NEI-3
Density index ID 0.9 0.7 0.5
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
4 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Geosciences, Geosciences, other, Materials Sciences, Composites, Porous Materials, Physics, Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics
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