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An improved volume measurement for determining soil water retention curves

Publication ,  Journal Article
Péron, H; Hueckel, T; Laloui, L
Published in: Geotechnical Testing Journal
January 1, 2007

The complete determination of soil water retention curves requires the sample volume to be measured in order to calculate its void ratio and degree of saturation. During drying in the pressure plate apparatus, cracks often appear in the sample altering its deformation and evaporation patterns. Consequently, this causes a significant scatter in the volume measurement when using the volume displacement method. This paper proposes a simple method to avoid cracking, by limiting friction and adhesion boundary effects, to allow for unrestrained shrinkage of the sample. Such modification of the technique decreases the measurement error by a factor of three. Copyright © 2007 by ASTM International.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Geotechnical Testing Journal

ISSN

0149-6115

Publication Date

January 1, 2007

Volume

30

Issue

1

Start / End Page

1 / 8

Related Subject Headings

  • Geological & Geomatics Engineering
  • 4019 Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy
  • 4005 Civil engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Péron, H., Hueckel, T., & Laloui, L. (2007). An improved volume measurement for determining soil water retention curves. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 30(1), 1–8.
Journal cover image

Published In

Geotechnical Testing Journal

ISSN

0149-6115

Publication Date

January 1, 2007

Volume

30

Issue

1

Start / End Page

1 / 8

Related Subject Headings

  • Geological & Geomatics Engineering
  • 4019 Resources engineering and extractive metallurgy
  • 4005 Civil engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering