Development of an aid tool for evaluation of unsaturated soils permeability

Abstract

Purpose

Prediction models for the unsaturated permeability proposed in the literature are numerous. However, a model may give a good result for a sample of a given soil when it may give a bad result for another sample belonging to the same type of soil. This showed that the choice of a model to complete the permeability curve in the unsaturated state is complex. To facilitate such studies, this paper aims to present a help system capable of defining the mathematical model to the user that best represents the permeability of the soil.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have detailed the difficulties in determining the correct value of kuns from a thorough bibliographic study. To develop this idea, the authors took real examples, to which they applied mathematical models and then compared their results with those of the bibliographic study. Knowledge structuring in the form of classes, rules and functions. Implementation of the data in generator of help system Kappa-pc. validation of results.

Findings

An aid tool was developed for the evaluation of unsaturated soils permeability using Brooks and Corey (1964) and Leong and Rahardjo (1997) models, which are known for their effectiveness and ease of application. This system will also evaluate these two methods using estimation models of saturated permeability [Dane and Pocket (1992), Terzaghi (1981) and laboratory data]. This system allows the evaluation of unsaturated permeability by the aforementioned two models, makes comparison between these two models, classifies them and proposes the model presenting the best result.

Originality/value

This aid system is able to compare results of different models of prediction of the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils according to several criteria (suction, degree of saturation, plasticity index, models of estimation of the permeability to the soil, saturated state, particle size, etc.). It can also deduce the model that best adapts to a given soil. This aid system will be of great use for geotechnical engineers and researchers in the field.

Citation

Mechkarini, L., Messafer, T., Bali, A. and Silhadi, K. (2019), "Development of an aid tool for evaluation of unsaturated soils permeability", World Journal of Engineering, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 322-330. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-08-2018-0260