Application and evaluation of soil suction and moisture equipment for unsaturated soils

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Soils in semi-arid regions such as Saskatchewan and near surface soils generally are unsaturated.  There is a great need for reliable and rapid measurement of water content and negative pore-water pressure in soils which is referred to as matric suction.  The measurement of matric suction can be used to: predict/monitor the stability of slopes; improve the design, performance and maintenance of highways subgrates; predict/monitor moisture movements through waste dumps, landfills and other contaminated sites, into the regional groundwater; and to design/monitor soil covers.  The annual costs associated with such problems in geotechnical, geo-environmental, and highway engineering, are estimated to be in the multi-million dollar range.   University of Saskatchewan has been a leader in research and development of matric suction measuring devices.  Given the public demand for stringent safety and environmental regulations, the need to reliably monitor slopes and industrial sites for contaminants has become urgent.    The proposal is to evaluate and use two new pieces of equipment in the areas of geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering.  The equipment is WP4-T Dew Point PotentiaMeter that measures suction rapidly and 6 ThetaProbes that measure water content in the field..  ThetaProbes will be installed in the field.  This equipment will be used for in both geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering research as and in particular in the study of unsaturated soil behaviour at low water contents and high suctions.   Graduate and undergraduate students and a research engineer will be trained in the use of this equipment.  Unsaturated soil mechanics is a relatively new area of study and the training will enhance the ability of our engineers to complete in a global market and promote innovations and research findings of Canada.