Description

The equipment consists of a freestanding circular tank filled with saturated sand (not supplied). Equilibrated soil samples placed on the sand are then subjected to a known variable suction range of 0-800mm of water. The suction is applied by means of a buried porous pipe and an associated sliding control chamber. In order to maintain the suction an uninterrupted low volume water supply is required. A lightweight cover is provided to prevent evaporative water loss during experiments and the table is large enough to permit the simultaneous evaluation of several samples.

Experimental Content

• Understand the principles of water retentivity in terms of soil suction

• Demonstrate the relationship between soil texture and soil water characteristics

• Understand the relationship between water retentivity and soil

• Demonstrate the influence of soil structure on the soil water characteristics of a soil

• Derive soil moisture characteristic curves for a variety of soil

• Relationship between applied suction and suction attained in a sand table