Role of unsaturated soil mechanics in geotechnical engineering

Abstract

The understanding of unsaturated soil mechanics principles is of interest to a wide spectrum of geotechnical problems associated with soils above water table and compacted soils. This paper describes the stress state variables and constitutive equations based on the unsaturated soil mechanics principles. In addition, the basic concepts for characterization of unsaturated soils and measurements of matric suction (or negative pore-water pressures) are also explained. The application of unsaturated soil mechanics theories is illustrated through the use of capillary barrier system for minimizing rain infiltration into residual soil slopes.