eyes — gn fees T3 ‘ a i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 0 oe : I would like to express my sincere and deep appreciation to Dr, Warren Kent Wray for his guidance, endless encouragement, and assistance throughout the course of this study. | also wish to thank Dr. Priyantha W. Jayawickrama for his kindly consenti serve on my thesis committee. 1 would sincerely like to thank Mr. Hsiu-Chung Lee for his wholehearted cooperation during performing of the experiments and guidance. My sincere appreciation to Mr, Brad Thombhill, Mario Torres, and Drex Little for their help in providing equipment for the experiments Finally, 1 wish to thank my family and friends for their support and encouragement throughout the whole study period. iiTABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ABSTRACT LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES CHAPTER 1 iit ml. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Problem Statement 1.2 Statement of Objectives 1.3. Research Approach .. SEARCH OF THE TECHNICAL LITERATURE ...... 2.1 Soil Suction Concept 2.2 The Filter Paper Method 2.2.1 Historical Background of the Filter Paper Calibration 2.22 Working Principle of the Filter Paper Method 2.1 Principle of Total Suction Measurements 2.2.2.2 Principle of Matric Suction Measurements 2.2.3. Calibration Technique of Filter Paper 2.2.3.1 Total Suction Calibration 2.2.3.2 Matric Suction Calibration 2.2.4 Performance of Filter Paper Method LABORATORY STUDIES 3.1 Apparatus Used in the Filter Paper Method ... 3.2 The Experimental Procedure 3.3. Total Suction Calibration Curve en viIV. EVALUATION OF THE PROBLEM 44 42 43 44 The Problem Sensitivity of Total Suction at High Water Content 4.2.1 Total Suction and Relative Humidity Relationship 42.2 Osmotic Suction versus Total Suction 4.23 Total Suction versus Filter Paper Water Content Total Suction and Salt Solutions Equilibration Time V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .... 51 52 REFERENCES APPENDICES, A B. Conclusions Recommendations CONVERSION UNITS. ASTM D 5298 - 92 STANDARD TEST METHOD FOR, MEASUREMENT OF SOIL POTENTIAL (SUCTION) USING FILTER PAPER .. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES AND OSMOTIC POTENTIALS OF SOME SALT SOLUTIONS... “SEPTEMBER” DATA VALUES USED IN CALIBRATION OF TOTAL SUCTION CURVE iv 4 44 44 45 46 46 50 33 53 34 56 60 63 69 2BABSTRACT The filter paper method is a soil suction measurement technique. Soil suction is one of the most important parameters describing the moisture condition of unsaturated soils. ‘The measurement of soil suction is crucial for applying the theory behind the unsaturated soils. The filter paper method is a laboratory test method, but itis inexpensive and relatively simple. It is also the only known method that covers the full range of suction. With the filter paper method, both total and matric suction can be measured, If the filter paper is allowed to absorb water through vapor flow (non-contact method), then only total suction is measured, However, ifthe filter paper is allowed to absorb water through fluid flow (contact method), then only matric suction is measured. In this research, the filter paper method was investigated, especially the lower (wet) part of the total suction calibration curve, A total suction calibration curve was constructed using sodium chloride, NaCl, salt solutions and S & S No. $89 White Ribbon filter papers. Salt solutions and filter papers were brought to equilibrium through vapor flow (total suction measurement) at isothermal conditions, Equilibrium time and temperature were two weeks and 25°C , respectively. It was found out that total suction is very sensitive below 2.5 pF and the reason for this sudden change in suction arise from double effect of the logarithms (i¢., natural logarithm from Kelvin’s equation and base ten logarithm from pF scale) and sensitivity of filter papers to water at low suctions, Filter paper is a poorly graded material, so it has more tendency to absorb water at low suctions. Another conclusion from these experiments and literature review was that the calibration curve is highly salt solution-type dependent because every salt solution has a different chemical activity thus different osmotic potential. The filter paper method needs further investigation in regard to equilibrium time and temperature fluctuations.