2019 Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 439-444
An experimental study using kaolinitic clay was performed in order to understand the unsaturated behavior of soils with high organic matter content (OMC). Reconstituted samples of kaolinitic clay were prepared with different OMC. Soil Water Retention Curves (SWRC) were obtained after drying and wetting processes and volume changes were also measured. Matrix suction was measured by the filter paper technique. Results show that for a constant value of suction, the higher the OMC the higher the water content. The Higher the OMC, the lower the Air Entry Value and the slope of the SWRC. OMC showed to have a different influence in the Volume Change behaviour (VC) in the drying and wetting process. Experimental results suggest possible engineering applications for the evaluation of volume change due to suction changes on kaolinitic soils with relatively high OMC.
