Permeability function for unsaturated soils with different initial densities

Abstract

This study proposes an approach to simulate the effects of initial density on the relative coefficient of permeability for unsaturated soils. The density-dependent permeability function is derived based on (i) an incremental relationship between the degree of saturation and the initial void ratio with various suctions and (ii) the relationship between the permeability function and the soil-water retention curve (SWRC). Only one additional parameter is required in the proposed function, which can be calibrated using a conventional SWRC test. A number of test results in the literature are employed to validate the proposed density-dependent permeability function, and the model predictions indicate good agreement with the experimental data in the literature.