Calibration of soil water retention parameters based on field measurements
Calibration of soil water retention parameters based on field measurements
It is well established that the relationship between soil water content and matric suction (referred to as the soil water retention curve (SWRC)), governs the behaviour of unsaturated soils. While SWRCs are typically measured in the laboratory, it is appreciated that the effects of soil structure can affect the shape of these curves. This paper presents calibration of the soil water retention parameters for an existing instrumented slope in Malaysia using field measurements of matric suction and volumetric water content and fully coupled flow-deformation analysis in PLAXIS. By systematically varying the SWRC parameters based on field measurements, this study attempts to improve the predictions of soil suction using a simplified rectangular soil section. Results from the analyses predicted slightly higher values of matric suction when compared with measured field data. However, the models were able to capture general trends and variations in matric suction in response to rainfall events.
T. A. V. Gaspar; Samprada Pradhan; A. S. Osman; David Geoffrey Toll
18th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ECSMGE2024)
B - Geohazards
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