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Research Article
A random solid-porous model to simulate the retention curves of soils
Article first published online: 12 JAN 2012
DOI: 10.1002/nag.1133
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Issue
International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics
Volume 37, Issue 8, pages 932–944, 10 June 2013
Additional Information
How to Cite
Horta, J., Rojas, E., Pérez-Rea, M. L., López, T. and Zaragoza, J. B. (2013), A random solid-porous model to simulate the retention curves of soils. Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech., 37: 932–944. doi: 10.1002/nag.1133
Publication History
- Issue published online: 15 MAY 2013
- Article first published online: 12 JAN 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 17 NOV 2011
- Manuscript Revised: 8 NOV 2011
- Manuscript Received: 3 MAY 2011
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- random;
- porous model;
- retention curves;
- unsaturated soils
SUMMARY
This paper describes a random solid-porous model capable of simulating the structure of porous materials. To this purpose, the grain and pore size distributions as well as the void ratio of the material are required. Solids and pores are distributed at random in the model's space according to a size strategy. Herein, the model is used to simulate the retention curves of soils. The Laplace equation is used to determine the size of the pores able to saturate or dry during a wetting or drying process, respectively. The continuous path principle is used to define those elements that effectively saturate or dry during these processes. With this procedure, it is possible to simulate the main retention curves as well as the scanning curves during wetting–drying cycles. Some experimental results reported in the international literature have been used to test the model. This model can be enhanced to study the mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.