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SOIL SUCTION BY THE RAPID METHOD: AN APPARATUS WITH EXTENDED RANGE
Author(s) -
DUMBLETON M. J.,
WEST G.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1968.tb01518.x
Subject(s) - suction , geotechnical engineering , tube (container) , capillary action , piston (optics) , water content , range (aeronautics) , flow (mathematics) , moisture , porosity , mechanics , environmental science , materials science , soil science , geology , composite material , mechanical engineering , engineering , optics , physics , wavefront
Summary In the rapid method of measuring soil suction the sample is placed on a porous plate attached to a capillary flow tube containing water. A suction is applied to the flow tube and rapidly adjusted to equal the suction of the soil, without change of soil‐moisture content. A form of the apparatus is described which has provision for very convenient and rapid adjustment of the applied suction by the use of either a vacuum pump or an air piston. The range of the apparatus is extended from the usual limit of pF 3 up to pF 3.35 by applying air pressure to a chamber enclosing the sample, using a hand pump. Suction curves for a sand, a silty clay, and a heavy clay illustrate the application of the apparatus, which can readily be constructed in a form suitable for field use.