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Role of the pore-size distribution function on water flow in unsaturated soil

孔径分布函数对水分在非饱和土体中迁移的作用

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Abstract

The hydraulic properties of soil (i.e. soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) and coefficient of permeability) govern the moisture flow in it. Previous research has indicated that the hydraulic properties of soil are dependent on its pore-size distribution. An improved capillary model is now proposed to explain the concept of the pore-size distribution in soil and its relationship to SWCC. A new model, the “valve model”, is also proposed as the explanation for water flow in unsaturated soil. The pore-size distribution function is incorporated in the “valve model” and is used to calculate the relative coefficient of permeability for unsaturated soil. In this paper, the role of the pore-size distribution function in the estimation of SWCC and the permeability function are explained. Equations are proposed for estimating the pore-size distribution function from the experimental data of relative coefficient of permeability. The results from the proposed equations agree with the experimental data from laboratory measurement and published data.

中文概要

目的

了解孔径分布函数对水分在非饱和土体中迁移的 影响,并提出相关数学模型,量化非饱和土体在 不同吸力作用下的渗透系数。

创新点

从孔径分布函数出发探讨土体的工程性质,以日 常生活中所用的阀门模型解释非饱和土体在不 同吸力作用下的渗透系数。提出采用非饱和土渗 透系数的实验数据,间接估算土体的孔径分布函 数。

方法

从物理模型推导相关数学公式,并用实验结果对 数学公式进行验证。

结论

孔径分布函数主导非饱和土的渗透系数;孔径分 布函数是连接土体两大水力特性(包括水土特征 曲线和渗流方程)的桥梁。孔径分布函数对水分 在土体中迁移的作用可以用日常生活中使用的 阀门模型简单描述。基于阀门模型,土体的孔径 分布函数也可以由土体的非饱和渗透系数的相 关实验数据间接估算得到。

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Laboratory for Reinforcement Concrete and Prestress Reinforcement Concrete Structures of the Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China

    Qian Zhai & Guo-liang Dai

  2. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Qian Zhai, Harianto Rahardjo, Alfrendo Satyanaga &  Priono

Authors
  1. Qian Zhai
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  2. Harianto Rahardjo
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  3. Alfrendo Satyanaga
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  4. Priono
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  5. Guo-liang Dai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harianto Rahardjo.

Additional information

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51878160), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFC00703408), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2242018K41046), China

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Zhai, Q., Rahardjo, H., Satyanaga, A. et al. Role of the pore-size distribution function on water flow in unsaturated soil. J. Zhejiang Univ. - Sci. A 20, 10–20 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1800347

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1800347

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