Techno Press
You logged in as. Techno Press

Geomechanics and Engineering
  Volume 33, Number 6, June25 2023 , pages 625-633
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2023.33.6.625
 


Predicting soil-water characteristic curves of expansive soils relying on correlations
Ahmed M. Al-Mahbashi, Muawia Dafalla and Mosleh Al-Shamrani

 
Abstract
    The volume changes associated with moisture or suction variation in expansive soils are of geotechnical and geoenvironmental design concern. These changes can impact the performance of infrastructure projects and lightweight structures. Assessment of unsaturated function for these materials leads to better interpretation and understanding, as well as providing accurate and economic design. In this study, expansive soils from different regions of Saudi Arabia were studied for their basic properties including gradation, plasticity and shrinkage, swelling, and consolidation characteristics. The unsaturated soil functions of saturated water content, air-entry values, and residual states were determined by conducting the tests for the entire soil water characteristic curves (SWCC) using different techniques. An attempt has been made to provide a prediction model for unsaturated properties based on the basic properties of these soils. Once the profile of SWCC has been predicted the time and cost for many tests can be saved. These predictions can be utilized in practice for the application of unsaturated soil mechanics on geotechnical and geoenvironmental projects.
 
Key Words
    expansive soils; index properties; prediction model; soil-water characteristic curve; unsaturated soil properties
 
Address
Ahmed M. Al-Mahbashi, Muawia Dafalla and Mosleh Al-Shamrani: Bugshan Research Chair in Expansive Soils, Dept. of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering,
King Saud Univ., Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
 

Techno-Press: Publishers of international journals and conference proceedings.       Copyright © 2025 Techno Press
P.O. Box 33, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-600 Korea, Tel: +82-42-828-7996, Fax : +82-42-828-7997, Email: admin@techno-press.com