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Desiccation shrinkage of non‐clayey soils: a numerical study
Author(s) -
Hu Liang Bo,
Péron Hervé,
Hueckel Tomasz,
Laloui Lyesse
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1096-9853
pISSN - 0363-9061
DOI - 10.1002/nag.2107
Subject(s) - shrinkage , mesoscale meteorology , porosity , geotechnical engineering , compressibility , pore water pressure , desiccation , materials science , porous medium , saturation (graph theory) , suction , mechanics , soil water , geology , soil science , composite material , thermodynamics , mathematics , physics , botany , climatology , combinatorics , biology
SUMMARY A mesoscale model of desiccation of soil based on the evolution of the pore system idealized as bimodal is numerically examined. A simplified evolution of the model reveals a series of characteristics that qualitatively agree with the observed macroscopic experimental findings. The principal mechanism is deemed to be driven by the surface evaporation and water outflow generating a pore pressure gradient resulting in the shrinkage mainly of the largest pores. The amount of shrinkage is a function of (negative) pore pressure and is controlled by the compressibility of the solid matrix. The numerical model includes also the ensuing partial saturation stage initiated by the air entry simulated as a scenario with a moving phase interface inside the pore. The proposed model can be extended beyond the two‐mode porosity soils, to include the multi‐modal porosity, or its statistical representation.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.