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Incorporating hysteresis in one-dimensional seepage modeling in unsaturated soils

  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Published:
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope

Abstract

To understand better the influence of soil-water characteristic hysteresis on rainfall infiltration and pore-water pressure distributions in unsaturated soils, an analytical solution to the one-dimensional governing partial differential equation considering hysteresis is derived using a Fourier integral transformation. The analytical solution considers time-dependent and arbitrary initial pore-water pressure distributions, as well as a time-varying rainfall flux process at the ground surface. An exponential function is used to represent the hysteretic Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) and the relationship between hydraulic conductivity and pore-water pressure. The calculated results demonstrate that the critical point, the intersection between wetting and drying domains in one-dimensional unsaturated seepage, is influenced by many factors. The hysteresis in soil-water characteristics is an important factor in infiltration process influencing the pore-water pressure profiles in unsaturated soils. The effects of hysteretic parameters on pore-water pressure profiles are also analyzed. The value of α in the hysteresis model is found to be the most significant factor influencing the pore pressure distributions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610059, China

    L. Z. Wu, R. Q. Huang & Q. Xu

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  1. L. Z. Wu
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  2. R. Q. Huang
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  3. Q. Xu
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Correspondence to R. Q. Huang.

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Wu, L.Z., Huang, R.Q. & Xu, Q. Incorporating hysteresis in one-dimensional seepage modeling in unsaturated soils. KSCE J Civ Eng 16, 69–77 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-012-1377-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-012-1377-z

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