<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The relationship between the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soil is imperative and has been well investigated. However, the correlation between elastic wave velocity along the wetting and drying paths of SWCC is largely unknown due to the nonavailability of a standard experimental setup for such a purpose. An ordinary triaxial apparatus has been modified for laboratory assessment of SWCCs under different K<sub>o</sub> stresses, along with the measurement of shear and compression wave velocities in due course. The main aim of the study is to draw SWCC, wave velocity characteristic curve (WVCC), and a Poisson’s ratio characteristic curve (PRCC) and to establish the phenomenon that these curves possess hysteresis. The Poisson’s ratio was obtained indirectly by measuring Vp and Vs. Three soil samples with relative densities of 85%, 56%, and 39% were prepared and placed in a modified triaxial test apparatus under wetting and drying cycles. The test results showed that the newly developed apparatus is accurately capable of measuring SWCC. Owing to the similarity in the shape of wave velocity and Poisson’s ratio, response to SWCC, WVCC, and PRCC are drawn. The phenomenon of stress history and the effective stress of the soil affected the behavior during wetting and drying paths.</p>
</abstract>

The relationship between the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soil is imperative and has been well investigated. However, the correlation between elastic wave velocity along the wetting and drying paths of SWCC is largely unknown due to the nonavailability of a standard experimental setup for such a purpose. An ordinary triaxial apparatus has been modified for laboratory assessment of SWCCs under different Ko stresses, along with the measurement of shear and compression wave velocities in due course. The main aim of the study is to draw SWCC, wave velocity characteristic curve (WVCC), and a Poisson’s ratio characteristic curve (PRCC) and to establish the phenomenon that these curves possess hysteresis. The Poisson’s ratio was obtained indirectly by measuring Vp and Vs. Three soil samples with relative densities of 85%, 56%, and 39% were prepared and placed in a modified triaxial test apparatus under wetting and drying cycles. The test results showed that the newly developed apparatus is accurately capable of measuring SWCC. Owing to the similarity in the shape of wave velocity and Poisson’s ratio, response to SWCC, WVCC, and PRCC are drawn. The phenomenon of stress history and the effective stress of the soil affected the behavior during wetting and drying paths.

Development of Wetting-Drying Curves from Elastic Wave Velocities Using a Novel Triaxial Test Apparatus

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

Interdisciplinary Research Center for Construction & Building Materials

Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

Graduate School of Science and Engineering

Studia Geotechnica et Mechanica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The relationship between the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soil is imperative and has been well...

Development of Wetting-Drying Curves from Elastic Wave Velocities Using a Novel Triaxial Test Apparatus

Article Category: Original Study

Published Online: Apr 21, 2024

Page range: 111 - 124

Received: Sep 15, 2023

Accepted: Mar 11, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2024-0006

Keywords
Triaxial test, soil water characteristic curve, wave velocity characteristic curve, Poisson’s ratio characteristic curve, elastic wave velocity

© 2024 Muhammad Irfan et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Development of Wetting-Drying Curves from Elastic Wave Velocities Using a Novel Triaxial Test Apparatus

Article Category: Original Study

Published Online: Apr 21, 2024

Page range: 111 - 124

Received: Sep 15, 2023

Accepted: Mar 11, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sgem-2024-0006

KeywordsTriaxial test, soil water characteristic curve, wave velocity characteristic curve, Poisson’s ratio characteristic curve, elastic wave velocity

© 2024 Muhammad Irfan et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

Figure 3:

Figure 4:

Figure 5:

Figure 6:

Figure 7:

Figure 8:

Figure 9:

Figure 10:

Figure 11:

Keywords
Triaxial test, soil water characteristic curve, wave velocity characteristic curve, Poisson’s ratio characteristic curve, elastic wave velocity