Postconstruction Changes in the Hydraulic Properties of Water Balance Cover Soils

Hydraulic properties of soils used for water balance covers measured at the time of construction and one to four years after construction are compared to assess how the hydraulic properties of cover soils change over time as a result of exposure to field conditions. Data are evaluated from ten field sites in the United States that represent a broad range of environmental conditions. The comparison shows that the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K and subscript s) can increase by a factor of 10,000, saturated volumetric water content (q and subscript s) by a factor of 2.0, van Genuchten's a parameter by a factor of 100, and van Genuchten's n parameter can decrease by a factor of 1.4. Larger changes occur for denser or more plastic fine-textured soils that have lower as-built K and subscript s, symbol alpha, and symbol theta and subscript s and higher as-built n, resulting in a reduction in the variation in hydraulic properties that can be attributed to compaction. After two to four years, many water balance cover soils can be assumed to have K and subscript s between 10 to the power of 5 and 10 to the power of 3 cm/s, symbol theta and subscript s between 0.36 and 0.40, a between 0.002 and 0.2 kPa to the power of 1, and n between 1.2 and 1.5. The data may be used to estimate changes in hydraulic properties for applications such as waste containment, where long-term maintenance of hydraulic properties in shallow engineered soil layers is important.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/3519342
• Authors:
  • Benson, Craig H
  • Sawangsuriya, A
  • Trzebiatowski, B
  • Albright, W H
• Publication Date: 2007-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 349-359
• Serial:
  • Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Volume: 133
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1090-0241
  • Serial URL: http://ojps.aip.org/gto

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Environmental impacts; Hydraulic properties; Hydraulics; Moisture content; Permeability coefficient; Plastic soils; Soil compaction; Soil water; Soils; Time periods
• Uncontrolled Terms: Water balance
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Construction; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01049994
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 10 2007 7:27AM