1. Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
2. Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
3. Key Laboratory of Soft Soils and Geoenvironmental Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Abstract：Testing soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) of degradable soil is rather complex. The Arya-Paris model was modified to predict SWCC of degradable soil from particle-size distribution (PSD) curve and void ratio. The modified model expressed in the differential form could use continuous PSD data, and hence avoid the prediction error caused by artificial division of PSD curve. An exponential model describing the changing of PSD with degradation time was established for degradable soil. Based on the above models, SWCCs of borehole municipal solid waste (MSW) specimens were predicted from the tested PSD curves. The comparison between predicted and tested SWCCs indicated that the proposed models could capture the changing behavior of SWCC with degradation for MSW: higher water retention capacity for the MSW with larger fill age. The theoretical work in this study would be helpful for studying the changing behavior of SWCC for other kinds of degradable soil.
