Field Measurement of Suction, Water Content, and Water Permeability

This paper presents a review of techniques for field measurement of suction, water content, and water hydraulic conductivity (permeability). Main problems in the use of field tensiometers are addressed and hints on how to improve tensiometer performance are given. Advantages and limitations of instruments for indirect measurement of suction including electrical conductivity sensors, thermal conductivity sensors, dielectric permittivity sensors, filter paper, and psychrometer are discussed. Techniques for water content measurement based on dielectric methods are then presented. These include time and amplitude domain reflectometry and capacitance. Finally, a brief overview of methods for measurement of water permeability in the field is presented.     

Design and installation of a combined automatic tensiometer-piezometer system

Currently available systems for monitoring both negative and positive pore pressures have certain restrictions as to their use. A system design is described that seeks to overcome some of the potentially more restrictive elements insofar as site investigations in tropical slopes are concerned. In particular, the system uses an integrated approach to both pore pressure and ancillary (e.g. raingauge) monitoring. Initial trials of the instrumentation suggest its suitability for pore pressure recording where high temporal resolution is needed in both negative and positive pressures.     

Effectiveness of horizontal drains for slope stability

Horizontal drains have been commonly used in stabilising unsaturated residual soil slopes. This study examines the effectiveness of horizontal drains in stabilising residual soil slopes against rainfall-induced slope failures under a tropical climate. The study includes field instrumentation at two residual soil slopes complemented with a parametric study relating to drain position. Field monitoring results indicate that rainfall infiltration is limited to a certain depth below which infiltration becomes insignificant. This zone tends to be unsuitable for horizontal drains. Horizontal drains were found to be most effective when located at the base of a slope. The parametric study indicated conditions under which horizontal drains are effective or ineffective in improving the stability of a slope. It was also found that horizontal drains have little role in minimising infiltration in an unsaturated residual soil slope. Benefits of using horizontal drains can be obtained through the lowering of the water table.     

Calibration and use of pressure transducers in soil hydrology

Laboratory and field experiments demonstrated that solid state pressure transducers are accurate and reliable devices for frequent measurements of soil suction. However, each transducer had to be individually calibrated before use and a hanging column procedure designed for this purpose is described. Analysis showed that each transducer had a linear response and that environmental conditions such as temperature had minimal influence. Twenty four tensiometers with pressure transducers were intalled in a forest soil to test their operation and their output was monitored by a data logger. An example of soil suction results measured during four storms is given to demonstrate their stability and their rapid response. The transducers were found to perform accurately and were only affected by temperatures below 0°C.     

田间测定沙地水分运动参数初步研究

采用田间垂直入渗试验法测定了沙地水分运动参数，并得到经验拟合曲线。沙土水分特征曲线表明，当体积含水率θ＞５％时，吸力Ｓ随θ增加而缓慢下降，而θ＜５％时，Ｓ随θ的减小而趋于急剧上升。非饱和导水率Ｋ～θ关系表明，当θ＞１５％时，导水率Ｋ值急剧上升，而θ＜１５％时，导水率Ｋ变化缓慢．     

Measurement of Matric Suction Using Tensiometric and Axis Translation Techniques

Experimental equipment for the measurement of matric suction in unsaturated soils using hydraulic tensiometers and the axis translation technique share a common working principle; that is, the measurement of a pressure differential across a high air entry porous ceramic. In this paper, the current state of the art in these two suction measurement techniques is presented and discussed together with the underlying physics thereby giving the reader the necessary basis to use and interpret the results obtained from those two techniques.