In-situ permeability of the unsaturated zone of Nicosia Marl from field wetting experiments

View/ Open
Date
2022-06Author
Pogiatzis, LoizosPublisher
Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου, Πολυτεχνική Σχολή / University of Cyprus, Faculty of EngineeringPlace of publication
CyprusGoogle Scholar check
Keyword(s):
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The construction of infrastructure in areas with problematic ground conditions, such as the
expansive soil of Nicosia marl in Cyprus, points to large economic losses. This research
investigates hydraulic and water retention properties of Nicosia marl, namely the in-situ
permeability and the hysteretic soil-water characteristic curve, in an effort to understand the
potential of infiltration and migration of rainwater inside the unsaturated zone of the soil
profile.
To achieve this, first the Nicosia marl was examined by laboratory testing after field sampling
from three different sites at the University of Cyprus campuses for the determination of the
soil-water characteristic curve using a chilled mirror hygrometer. Then, the data acquired by
installed field volumetric water content and matric suction monitoring sensors were used in FE
simulations for the back calculation of the in-situ permeability in both vertical and horizontal
direction. The results indicate that the in-situ permeability is 3 to 4 orders of magnitude larger
than the one measured in the laboratory on intact samples. This is attributed to the presence of
the shrinkage cracks and the inherent structural fissures of the material.