Masters Theses

Abstract

"The moisture characteristic and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of a Missouri plastic clay were investigated.

The physical properties of the clay were determined by traditional soil mechanics tests. Test specimens were statically compacted at low water content. Thermocouple psychrometers were used to measure soil water potential (soil suction).

Hysteresis in the moisture characteristic was investigated. A measurable distinction was observed between the primary wetting and primary drying curves.

The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was determined using a variation of the instantaneous profile method. Only imbibition was studied. The hydraulic conductivity at degrees of saturation from 45 percent to 83 percent was from three to four orders of magnitude lower than the hydraulic conductivity measured at full saturation.

Parameters from the moisture characteristic of the clay were used in a published computer model (SOHYP) to predict the hydraulic conductivity-water content function. Values predicted by the model agreed with measured values within the middle portion of the range of water contents for which the hydraulic conductivity was determined. The model tended to underpredict at lower water contents and overpredicted at higher water contents"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Lentz, Rodney

Committee Member(s)

Stephenson, Richard Wesley
Westphal, Jerome A.
McConnell, Cary L., 1945-

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Civil Engineering

Sponsor(s)

Missouri Water Resources Research Center

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Fall 1991

Pagination

xii, 113 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 108-112).

Rights

© 1991 Paul Winston Ridlen, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Clay soils -- Missouri -- TestingSoil moisture -- Computer simulationSoil permeability -- Testing

Thesis Number

T 6297

Print OCLC #

25378359

Electronic OCLC #

961477972

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