Unsaturated Soils

Characterisation & Engineering Behaviour 

We preach about "three phased idealisation" of soils in the first course on Soil Mechanics. Yet, most of the theories, experiments and designs in Geotechnical Engineering rely on one of the two extremes of the this idealisation - treating the soil system to be either completely dry or completely saturated.

How often do you encounter soils that are completely dry or completely saturated!?

We study the following aspects:

(a) continuous monitoring of transitional behaviour (saturated-dry) response of soils through dielectric measurements and implications of progressive desaturation the engineering behaviour of soils

(b) measurement of parameters describing unsaturated behaviour of soils (suction, volume change, hydraulic conductivity, strength)

(c) usage of suction induced densification through controlled evaporation as a means of soil stabilisation 

Schematic and principle of ventilated well method (VWM) 

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