Estimación de la curva característica suelo agua en suelos arenosos mediante el ensayo de papel filtro

Abstract

The unsaturated soils mechanics is strongly related to the suction phenomenon that occurs between solid soil particles, which changes when the soil water content does not remain constant. The soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) provides information related to suction and water content of the soil; and to obtain such a curve different direct and indirect methods can be used. In this research the soil-water characteristic curve for sands is obtained through the implementation of the filter paper test. For this purpose, three reconstituted samples of sandy soils from Lima – Peru (relative density between 20% and 60%) were tested following the wet path of the curve. The samples were stored at least seven days until equilibrium was reached. In this way, discrete points of the soil-water characteristic curve were obtained. SWCC equations such as Brooks and Corey (1964), Van Genuchten (1980), and Fredlund and Xing (1994) were used to adjust the data and obtain their respective parameters for sandy soils. Results show that the filter paper test can be used to obtain the soil-water characteristic curves of reconstituted sandy soils; and that the matric suction of sandy soil can be obtained in seven days period by means of this method; whereas a longer storage time could require to reach the equilibrium and to obtain the total suction for these soils.