Techniques for Measuring Hydraulic Properties for Unsaturated Soils

The soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) and the soil hydraulic conductivity function (SHCF) are two important soil parameter functions required when performing seepage analysis for saturated/unsaturated soil systems. Examples of engineering applications where a soil hydraulic conductivity function is involved include the triggering of landslides due to rainfall infiltration, and the modeling of flow and volume change in collapsing soils, compacted soils, and expansive clays. The SHCF is also required when modeling contaminant migration in vadose zones and the design of capillary barriers and cover systems. In this chapter, the techniques for measuring the hydraulic properties of unsaturated coarse granular soils (i.e., SWCCs and SHCFs) were introduced.