PROCENDINGS OF TIIE SECOIID

WCOÌ\FEREI\CE ON

T]NSATT]RATED SOILS

27-30 August 1998

Beijing, China

VOLUME 1

International Academic Publishers

 ASPECTS OF THE STORAGE CAPACITY OF A
COMPACTED RESIDUAL SOIL

Fernando A. M. Marinho and Mônica M. M. Stuermer

(Polyechnic School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil, frnarinho@usp.br.;

Abstract

Flow of liquids through unsaturated soils has been extensively studied. However, the determination of the
parameters involved the unsatuÍated flow is still a diÍïcult task. One of the phenomena thât are related to the
characteristic of flow "vith
in unsaturated soils is the storage capacity of the material. Thls is particularly important for the
design ofwaste depo luation ofthe ability ofsoils
The paper describe ng a residual soil ofGneiss.
of the top layer of a the University of São paulo
initial characterizatio soil water retention capacity
capacify ofthe soil under environmental chanses.
The soil water characteristic curve is presen-ted and some discussion on the structure of compacted residual
soil is
presented. The results obtained using a soil column is used to characterize the soil in the low range
ofsuction.

Introduction

Many authors refer to soil as a leaky water reservoir. In fact, there is a maxrmum amount of water that can
be
added to the soil before that water runs into deeper ìayers. Soil's ability of holding water is related
to the amount and
nature ofthe surfaces ofsoil †C`The
forces holding
water in soil are surface-attractive forces, the more surface area a soil has, the gréater is ihe amount
of warer
absorbed.
The performance of landfill depends on the volume of leachate generated, the generation of leachate
depends on
the water balance Il]. One ofthe components ofthe water balance iJ the storage capacity ofthe soil.
Figure I presents the relation between clay content and water content at two particular states. These two
stâtes refer
to the air dry (AD) condition and to the field capacity (FC) one. A soil at the Fb curve cannot hold
more water if it is
supplied and a soil at the AD cuwe will not lose water to the air at a particular relative humidiry.
The curves shown
in figure I are not unique and it is only presented to indicate that ihere is a relation between water conrenr
ar a
particular environmental condition and clay content. The data was obtained from the literature.
The data that is represented by the curve AD were obtained assuming the water content at a suction
of 70Mpa_
This level of suction represents an air relative humidity (RH) of approximately 60%. The FC curve
was drawn using
the data obtained for the water content at the field capaciry. The field capacitycan be defined as
the maximum water
content a soil can hold or store under a condition ofcomplete wetting followed by drainage. It
has been considered
here that the field capacify is the water content held by the soil at a suótion ofapproximately
30kpa.
water car be hold in soils ev-en when the atmosjheric condition (air dry ài nH=oo"z"i induces a high
level of
suction. However the amount of ìxater held by the soil is function, interalia, of the claycontent,
minátogy and
stress history. In agronomy, is common to use the curve related to the wilting point
of ihe plants and the level of
suction associated with that is approximately l.5MPa. For engineering pu.po..r this may not
be so useful in most
cases.

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 Most of the engineering problems were between the two curves shown in figure Another line could be c: l.
interest, which is the one that may be located between the AD and FC curves. That curve should represent the \\ater
content at the general air entry value (GAE) ofsuction [2].

{8
Ec a
..,j:
a

oo
t\5
Ëg J
a
sU)
gã ao. a

,!ë oJ
\Jí N9..
bg , .'t
ãt
;ã
.il
il
a I
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Clay Content (%)

Figure I Water content limits for soils at two different environmental condition.

The Soil Used

The soil used is a residual soil of gneiss from the top layer of the profile. The liquid limit and plasiic limit of the
mâterial are 489'o and 29%o respectively. The clay content and the specific gravity of the soil are 45Yo and 2.70,
respectively. The soil was compacted using the standard Normal Proctor. The compaction curve obtained is
presented in figure 2.
The value ofsuction after the compaction was measured using the filter paper technique, measuring matrix suction
waiting seven days for equilibrium to be attained. The data is shown in figure 2.

9o
\ Y*

V
Suctbn alìer
(* íc
zx
\
o)
q) la
r
=
òra
o''
Y
tz
\
15

Water Content (%)

Figure 2 - Compaction curve and suction a1ìer compaction

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 The Soil Water Characteristic Curves

All compacted samples were allowed to slowly air dry in order to obtain the soil water characteristic curves. The
suction was measured during the drying process using the filter paper technique. The filter paper were placed in
contact '"vith the soil sample and hence measuring matrix suction. The volume change of the samples were taken
using vemier callipers reading 0.0lmm. This technique inevitably is somewhat imprecise, they have the advantage of
relative simplicify, enabling reasonable numbers oftest to be carried out. Thus, the results can be used to establish
trends of behaviour in terms of volume change.
When plotting the data, as in figure 4, interesting comparisons can be made befween the relationship of void ratio
versus suction and water content (gravimetric and volumetric) versus suction. For convenience, the data ofonly two
samples are presented here. The results of the other samples tested showed similar behaviour independently of the
initial water content.

0.9 I
I *
rt
0.85 I
.9
aú 0.8
É. v Y
p
o 0.75

o.7
o t s
I
fl ) (a) (c) \Ë
0.65
100
90
*** t
Y *- o
80 v
70
60
ú
tso
@40
30 I
v
20
10 _ (b) - (d)
0
0 5 í015202530 35 40
*
Water Content (%) ^45 Y
E40
r r ?6
ìso
'= 1J
çt_
F20 E
5ts 6
9ro (e)
0
10 100 1000 10000
suction (kPa)

Figure 4 Soil water characteristic curves

The Soil Column

A compacted soil column with l.8m height was prepared using the same soil. For compacting the soil a
mini-Proctor system was used with the special foot adapted to it. The special foot was necessary in order to fit the

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size of the PVC tube used (40mm diameter). The initial water content of the soil wu 27Yo. This procedure resulted
in a soil with a lower densiÇ, where compared with the standard Proctor.
The tube was placed inside a bucket and a water level was maintained at a height of l5cm from the basê of the
tube. Water was them allowed to be absorbed by the soil and equilibrate with it. The top of the soil was covered with
wax and a ordinary tensiometer was installed. The tensiometer reading was equivalent to the height of water in
relation to the water level. The water level was then risen to 35cm from the bottom ofthe tube. As expected the
tensiometer followed this variation accordingly. One should consider that the ordinary tensiometer used can only
read 0.5kPa. The use ofthe tensiometer was just to monitorthe equilibrium process for other environmental changes
that were programmed.
After equilibrium ìilÍrs reached the column was cut in 9 sections, and the water content and volume was
determined. Final condition of the soil in terms of dry unit weight and water content inside the tube is shown in
figure 2.
Figure 5 presents the results obtained after the tube was disassembled. Part'a' of the figure 5 shows the volumetric
water content, part 'b' shows the dry weight with height, part 'c' presents the degree of saturation and part 'd' shows
the calculated value ofsuction, all in relation to the height ofthe tube. The estimated suction was calculated based
on the height ofthe water in relation to the water level lzero water pressure) [3]. The column can not be higherthan
the equivalent suction (e.g. in cm) at the residual water content, in orderto guaantee hydraulic continuity.

T€nsiom€l€í

(
120 120 120
È
s:100
\ í00 100

,9
o
-60
80
I
40
\
( F
20
) 20 20
i Waisr L€vel

a a a
0 0 0
30 35 40 4s s0 13 13.5't4 14.515 80 85 90 9s 0 5 10 15 2
Volumetric W/C (%) Ory Unit Weight (kN/íÌ?) s (%l Suction (kPa)

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 5 Final characteristics of the column

Discussion and Conclusions

Soil profiles in the field are subjected to environmental changes that can induce a quite large range of water
content within the soil. At a particular moment the soil can be at a very high water content at the top and still have a
low value at the bottom. The process of equitibrium is fundamental for slope stability and for generation of leachate.
The so called equilibrium, is in fact, a dynamic process that divert a process to one or another direction. The water
balance of the region in study will define the direction of the process and a certain moment. The data presented here
do not focus directly the aspect ofthe equilibrium process in a soil profile. But it does show the abiliry ofthe soil to
respond to environmental changes and this response can be predicted using the relations that exist between '#ater
content (volumetric and gravimetric), void ratio, degree of saturation and suction.
Allowing a compacted sample to dry the soil loses water and then increases its suction. This process will take the
soil from a "high" water content to a "low" water content. As shown in figure I there is a maximum amount of water
that can be hold by the soil, which can be considered to be the so called field capacity. In the other hand there is also
a minimum water content that a soil will retain at a fairly low air relative humidity (air dry condition). It should be

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 pointed out that the field capacity definition (in the agronomy sense) has, some how, the implicit assumption that the
soil does not change its volume when it absoôs water.
The drying process associated with the filter paper technique has been a very good way to obtain the soil water
characteristics, it is simple and reasonably precise.
The suction after compaction ofthe samples varied from l900kPa at the dry part ofthe compaction curve to l8kPa
at the wetter part. It can be seen in figure 2 that the suction at the optimum water content is approximately l00kPa.
The relation between water content and suction ofthis material is not significantly affected by small variations in the
energy of compaction [a]. This means that the suction will depend only on the water content and the lines of
iso-suction, on figure 2, can be drawn as vertical lines, up to approximately the 90Yo degree of saturation cuwe. It
should be pointed out. if a strong over{onsolidation process is induced in this soit it may show differences on the
relation water content versus suction.
The compacted soil presented a suction at the general air entry (GAE) of approximately l000kPa. The volume
change of this soil during the drying process stopped at approximately 3000kPa. The Íìeld capacity (gravimetric
watèr content) for this soil, as defined previously, is about 27o/o and the water content at the air dry condition is
approximately 2%.
The suction capacity (C) for this soil is 2.5%, determined in a range of suction between l0kPa and l000kPa The
suction capacity is can be described as the reduction in water content (expressed as percent) over one logarithmic
cycle12 ]. The value of C obtained is very low when compared with results from soils with similar liquid limit. The
laterization process that occurs in residual soil may be responsible forthis low value ofsuction capacity.
Using a soil column it is possible to induce environmental changes from the top or from the bottom of the column,
which can give information on storzÌge capaciry under different combinations of environmental conditions [5].
Informations on the permeabiliry function of the soil can also be obtained. The compaction of a soil column also
allowed the determination ofthe soil water characteristic at the low range ofsuction (i.e. < 20kPa), since the filter
paper technique is not so good at this level of suction. Using the calculated suction obtained from the column one
can compâre the soil water characteristics ofthe soil column with the soil water characteristic obtained on the drying
process. It can be observed in figure 4 that the data agree reasonably well with the data from the drying process. It
seems that there is a discontinuity on the relation between volumetric water content and suction at suctions lower
than l0kPa. The soil was able to hold water at a level ofsuction lower than that at 30kP4 equivalent to the field
capaciry. This was possible due to the expansion ofthe soil.
It should be pointed out that the path followed by the compacted samples were a drying path and the one followed
by the column was a wetting one. Although this may lead to a big difference on mid range level of suction
differences are not expected at low suctions
The soil presented a significant volume change during the drying and during the wetting processes. This volume
change make it difficulty to use mathematical model to infer, from the water content versus suction relation. the
permeability function of this soil.

References

tll Kìire, M.V; Meerdinh J.S; Benson, C.H. and Bosscher, P.J. - Unsaturated hydraulic conductiviry and water
balance Predictions for earthen landÍìll frnal covers - Soil Suction Applications in Geotechnical Engineering Practice
- ASCE Geotechnical Specíal Publícation n" 48 - Edited by Wray, W.K. and Houston, 5.L., t995, 38-57.
Í21 Marinho, F.A.M. and Chandler, R.J.- Aspects of the behaviour of clays on drying - (Jnsaturated
Soils - ASCE Geotechnícal Special Publicatíon no 39 - Edíted by Houston, S.L. and lílray, ll.K. , t993,
77-90.
t3l -
Buckingham, E. Studies on the movement of soil moisture - U.S. Dept. Agríc. Bur. of Soit, Bull.
n.38,1907.
t4] Stuermer, M. M. M. - Storage capacity of a residual soil of gneiss - MSc Thesis (in Portugueese), Sõo
Paulo Universit-v, I 998.
t5] Blight, G.E. and Roussev, K. - The v/ater balance for an ash dump in a water-deficient climate - (Jnsaturated
Soils - Edited bv Alonso, E.E. and Delage, P. Bulkenru,l995, 833-839

Acknowledgements
The work presented in this paper is part ofa reseach project sponsored by the São Paulo State agency (FAPESP).

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