The influence of the suction distribution on deformation property
The influence of the suction distribution on deformation property
This study investigates the influence of suction distribution and soil moisture variation on the compression behavior of unsaturated soils. The research is motivated by the need to better understand soil deformation processes affecting monuments, buried structures, and archaeological remains under unsaturated conditions. To examine the effect of non-uniform suction conditions, a stainless-steel column mold apparatus was developed to apply different suction levels to the top and bottom surfaces of soil specimens. A modified oedometer apparatus was then used to evaluate compression behavior under controlled suction gradients. Several soil materials, including silty soil, kaolin, bentonite mixtures, and silica sand mixtures, were tested. The results show that suction gradients produce non-uniform water content distributions that significantly influence compression behavior and deformation stiffness. Specimens subjected to suction gradients exhibited different compression responses compared to specimens with uniform moisture conditions. In addition, the study investigates the influence of carbon dioxide gas on soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) under high suction conditions. The results indicate that carbon dioxide exposure modifies water retention behavior, particularly during the wetting process, and reduces hysteresis between drying and wetting paths.
Tomoyoshi Nishimura
4th International Symposium on the Preservation of Monuments and Historic Sites
Materials, Monitoring and Geotechnical Investigation Methods
https://doi.org/10.53243/tc301-2026-87