Evaluation of Hydraulic Conductivity and Diffusion Coefficient of Unsaturated Soils from Experimental SWRC

Authors

  • J. R. Galaviz-González Department of Civil Engineering and Topography, University of Guadalajara, 1421 Blvd. Marcelino García Barragán, Guadalajara-44430, Mexico.
  • J. M. Horta-Rangel Graduate Engineering Department, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, Queretaro, Qro. C.P.-76010, Mexico.
  • E. Rojas-Gonzalez Graduate Engineering Department, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, Queretaro, Qro. C.P.-76010, Mexico.
  • M. L. Pérez-Rea Graduate Engineering Department, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, Queretaro, Qro. C.P.-76010, Mexico.
  • T. Lopez-Lara Graduate Engineering Department, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, Queretaro, Qro. C.P.-76010, Mexico.
  • J. B. Hernandez-Zaragoza Graduate Engineering Department, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, Queretaro, Qro. C.P.-76010, Mexico.
  • L. Y. Cabello-Suárez Department of Project Engineering, University of Guadalajara, 48 Blvd. José Guadalupe Zuno, Zapopan-45157, Mexico.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/costr/v10/3079C

Keywords:

Soil water retention curve, hydraulic conductivity, diffusion coefficient, unsaturated soils, indirect method

Abstract

Fine unsaturated soils change their water content due to climatic conditions, pipe failure, and other factors. These changes produce drying-wetting cycles that generate shrinkage-swelling cycles due to variations in soil suction and water content. Several theoretical models are used to estimate the hydraulic behavior of soils (hydraulic conductivity and diffusion coefficient) by fitting the SWRC. The fitting model precision depends largely on the accuracy of the experimental points of the SWRC and the fitting model. Because of this, it is advisable to simply use the experimental data from the SWRC to obtain the hydraulic behavior. Therefore, an algorithm based on a data table, which uses an interpolation method with variable increments, is proposed. The procedure approximates the experimental SWRC using a polynomial equation generated for each branch (drying and wetting). This procedure simplifies the indirect method and avoids errors caused by the SWRC fitting process because it does not require fitting parameters. The results show that the hydraulic behavior of soils can be predicted more precisely with the proposed method than with the traditional methods.

Published

2022-12-17

How to Cite

J. R. Galaviz-González, J. M. Horta-Rangel, E. Rojas-Gonzalez, M. L. Pérez-Rea, T. Lopez-Lara, J. B. Hernandez-Zaragoza, & L. Y. Cabello-Suárez. (2022). Evaluation of Hydraulic Conductivity and Diffusion Coefficient of Unsaturated Soils from Experimental SWRC. Current Overview on Science and Technology Research Vol. 10, 23–44. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/costr/v10/3079C

Issue

Current Overview on Science and Technology Research Vol. 10

Section

Chapters