Calibration of Soil Water Characteristic Curve Using FX Model

Abstract

In the present scenario, soil mechanics plays a vital role. In the past few decades there is a wide range of exposure to the unsaturated soils as a significant portion of earth is consisting of arid and semi-arid climatic conditions. Unsaturated soils frequently undergo wetting and drying process due to seasonal variations. Due to this process, expansive soil may undergo swelling-shrinkage process. Considering the similarity between wetting-drying and freezing-thawing process, this study was an attempt to analyse the effect of the freezing-thawing process on suction behaviour of expansive soil. Suction is the basic and most important parameter which influences the behaviour of soil. Filter Paper method is used to for the study as an economical approach to evaluate suction. For the experimental study, samples were moulded to achieve full compaction (100% of Proctor density) for different degree of saturation. The moulded samples were passed through required number of the freezing-thawing cycles (0, 1, 3, & 5 nos.) and soil-water characteristic curves (SWCC) are formulated for all F-T cycles.