Influence of the saturation–suction relationship in the formulation of non-saturated soil consolidation models

A versatile mathematical approach for environmental geomechanic modelling based on stress state decomposition

“…This is too important a conclusion, all the more because the convergence of the four phase system to the simpler case of Ref. [25] when only one fluid is present, allows validating not only the equations regarding relative permeability along with the ensuing mathematic but also all those stress states that involve the pollutant pore pressure, putting forward the consistency of the present extension…”

“…[25] When the saturation change with suction is disregarded (a soil with high or low water saturation) the system is further reduced to a symmetric one with coefficients a 13 ¼ a 31 as well as a noteworthy simplification of a 11 and a 33 is endured, everything in accordance with Ref. [25] …”

“…Therefore, functions relating, on the one hand, S w with p cw and, on the other hand, S p with p cp are required. Di Rado et al [25] presents a general guidelines on how to cope with these kind of functions towards the C sw determination. Therein, saturation-suction curves (SSC) gave the experimental support to the mathematical approach (see Fredlund and Xing [32]).…”

“…The governing equation, in terms of displacement and fluid pressures, result in a coupled non-linear partial differential equation system. Some of the coupling factors, i.e., those due to the rate of suction-saturation relationship, can be straightforward decoupled by merely setting certain coefficients to special values when facing conditions of high liquid saturation which in turn, leads to simple symmetric formulations as indicated by Di Rado et al [25]. Widely, 1.…”

“…Consequently, when one noteworthy feature of this approach is the fact that, at each material point, all the phases are assumed to be simultaneously present what in turn, renders to a straightforward idealization of the whole structure. In the present paper, the general guidelines originally proposed by Khalili and Khabbaz [24] and later on modified by Di Rado et al [25] are followed, however, further modifications must be introduced for considering the presence of one or more pollutant phases.…”