Suction in compacted states Available to Purchase

This note examines the possible magnitude of suction in compacted states. The discussion is restricted to clayey soils. The word ‘suction’ here denotes matric suction (u_a − u_w). It is assumed that there is no difference in the salt concentration in the soil bulk water and the outside water, and hence osmotic suction is not significant.

It is generally understood that unsaturated soils have a high suction by virtue of their unsaturation and the resulting capillary actions, and that its magnitude is related to the water content or degree of saturation: the lower the water content,...