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

半干旱地区的土壤如萨斯喀彻温省和近地表土壤一般是不饱和的。人们非常需要可靠和快速地测量土壤中的含水量和负孔隙水压力，即所谓的基质吸力。基质吸力的测量可用于：预测/监测边坡的稳定性；改善公路路基的设计、性能和保养；预测/监测通过垃圾场、垃圾填埋场和其他受污染地点进入区域地下水的水分运动；并设计/监测土壤覆盖。在岩土工程、地质环境和公路工程中，与这些问题相关的年度成本估计在数百万美元的范围内。萨斯喀彻温大学在材料吸力测量装置的研究和开发方面一直处于领先地位。鉴于公众对严格的安全和环境法规的要求，对斜坡和工业场地的污染物进行可靠监测的需求变得迫切。该建议是评价和使用岩土工程和地质环境工程领域的两件新设备。该设备是WP4-T露点电位器，可快速测量吸力和6个ThetaProbes，可测量现场的含水量。这些探针将被安装在现场。该设备将用于岩土工程和地质环境工程研究，特别是在低含水量和高吸力下非饱和土壤行为的研究。研究生和本科生以及一名研究工程师将接受使用该设备的培训。非饱和土力学是一个相对较新的研究领域，培训将提高我们的工程师在全球市场上完成的能力，并促进加拿大的创新和研究成果。

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.