|
View Paper
ESTIMATION OF THE WETTING FRONT DEPTH IN A LOESS SOIL DEPOSIT IN RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Session: Problematic Soils and Ground Improvement III / Sols problématiques et amélioration du comportement III
Ping Li, University of Ottawa (Canada)
Sai Vanapalli, University of Ottawa (Canada)
Tonglu Li, Chang'an University (China)
The extent of wetting depth in loess soil deposits associated with environmental factors is the key information that is required for reliable prediction or estimation of collapse settlement. This information is also required for better understanding of rainfall-induced loess landslides. In this paper, case study results of a site in Northwestern China are discussed in greater detail. The moisture content variation of soil within 10 m below the surface was monitored for a period of one year. The wetting front extension was determined graphically by understanding the progressive trends of soil moisture in response to environmental changes at various levels of depth. In addition, VADOSE/W was used to simulate the flow behaviour in loess deposits to predict the variation of the soil water content profile due to the influence of environmental factors. The VADOSE/W is found to be a useful tool for reasonably simulating the flow behaviour corresponding to changes of environmental factors in loess soils.
|
