Comparative Analysis of Soil-Water Characteristic Curve in Fractal and Empirical Models

The fitting analysis of soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) is the foundation of engineering properties of unsaturated soils. The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences of fitting effects between different fractal and empirical models as well as the effect of residual water content θ...

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Main Authors: Gaoliang Tao, Yangyang Chen, Henglin Xiao, Yin Chen, Wan Peng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/1970314
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author Gaoliang Tao
Yangyang Chen
Henglin Xiao
Yin Chen
Wan Peng
author_facet Gaoliang Tao
Yangyang Chen
Henglin Xiao
Yin Chen
Wan Peng
author_sort Gaoliang Tao
collection DOAJ
description The fitting analysis of soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) is the foundation of engineering properties of unsaturated soils. The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences of fitting effects between different fractal and empirical models as well as the effect of residual water content θr on the model fitting. The experimental SWCCs of Hunan clay at different initial dry densities are measured by pressure plate instrument, and then they are fitted by fractal and empirical models. The effect of the limit of θr on the fitting results is analyzed by comparing the results of indoor evaporation test. The results show that within the measured data point range, fractal model II-2 and van Genuchten model (VG model) have the best fitting effect, fractal models I and II-1 take the second place, and the fitting effect of Gardner model is the worst. When the matrix suction is more than the measured data, the fitting accuracy of the model is poor. For the model with θr, reasonable limit range of θr can only improve the fitting accuracy of the model to a certain extent. For the fractal model, the fitting accuracy of the model can be improved effectively when θr is considered. Furthermore, the difference of fractal dimension and air-entry value in various fractal models are also discussed in this paper.
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spelling doaj-art-01ef6af195054dca9cd9bf96c68235842025-08-20T02:03:05ZengWileyAdvances in Materials Science and Engineering1687-84341687-84422020-01-01202010.1155/2020/19703141970314Comparative Analysis of Soil-Water Characteristic Curve in Fractal and Empirical ModelsGaoliang Tao0Yangyang Chen1Henglin Xiao2Yin Chen3Wan Peng4School of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaSchool of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaSchool of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaInstitute of Geophysics & Geomatics, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, ChinaSchool of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, ChinaThe fitting analysis of soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) is the foundation of engineering properties of unsaturated soils. The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences of fitting effects between different fractal and empirical models as well as the effect of residual water content θr on the model fitting. The experimental SWCCs of Hunan clay at different initial dry densities are measured by pressure plate instrument, and then they are fitted by fractal and empirical models. The effect of the limit of θr on the fitting results is analyzed by comparing the results of indoor evaporation test. The results show that within the measured data point range, fractal model II-2 and van Genuchten model (VG model) have the best fitting effect, fractal models I and II-1 take the second place, and the fitting effect of Gardner model is the worst. When the matrix suction is more than the measured data, the fitting accuracy of the model is poor. For the model with θr, reasonable limit range of θr can only improve the fitting accuracy of the model to a certain extent. For the fractal model, the fitting accuracy of the model can be improved effectively when θr is considered. Furthermore, the difference of fractal dimension and air-entry value in various fractal models are also discussed in this paper.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/1970314
spellingShingle Gaoliang Tao
Yangyang Chen
Henglin Xiao
Yin Chen
Wan Peng
Comparative Analysis of Soil-Water Characteristic Curve in Fractal and Empirical Models
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
title Comparative Analysis of Soil-Water Characteristic Curve in Fractal and Empirical Models
title_full Comparative Analysis of Soil-Water Characteristic Curve in Fractal and Empirical Models
title_fullStr Comparative Analysis of Soil-Water Characteristic Curve in Fractal and Empirical Models
title_full_unstemmed Comparative Analysis of Soil-Water Characteristic Curve in Fractal and Empirical Models
title_short Comparative Analysis of Soil-Water Characteristic Curve in Fractal and Empirical Models
title_sort comparative analysis of soil water characteristic curve in fractal and empirical models
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/1970314
work_keys_str_mv AT gaoliangtao comparativeanalysisofsoilwatercharacteristiccurveinfractalandempiricalmodels
AT yangyangchen comparativeanalysisofsoilwatercharacteristiccurveinfractalandempiricalmodels
AT henglinxiao comparativeanalysisofsoilwatercharacteristiccurveinfractalandempiricalmodels
AT yinchen comparativeanalysisofsoilwatercharacteristiccurveinfractalandempiricalmodels
AT wanpeng comparativeanalysisofsoilwatercharacteristiccurveinfractalandempiricalmodels