Publisher's Synopsis
Experimental Unsaturated Soil Mechanics highlights experimental methods for testing unsaturated soils, focusing on measurement of thermal, hydraulic and mechanical properties. Covering the most up-to-date methods, this book focuses on the correct test applications and results analysis. Researchers and practitioners in geotechnical engineering will benefit from the standardized approach to a vast selection of testing methods with associated results analysis. The book also provides a great foundation for work on energy geotechnics. Hydrologists, soil scientists and agricultural engineers can all benefit from the contents of this book.
In the first chapter, the author discusses the motivation to research and study unsaturated soils and the role of experimental methods. Chapter two provides a review of the physics of soil-water-air interactions, including soil thermodynamics and phase relationships. Chapter three provides comprehensive coverage of the measurement of hydraulic and thermal properties of unsaturated soils, including theory of flow processes, key variables and hydraulic properties measurement. Chapter four covers measurements of volume change in unsaturated soils, including thermal volume change. Chapter five covers the measurement of strength of unsaturated soils. The final chapter deals with the measurement of dynamic properties.
