Modelo experimental para la determinación del grado de saturación del suelo en condiciones iniciales no saturadas bajo la influencia del agua superficial con aplicación a movimientos de laderas

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this research was to determine the saturation level of non granular soils under the influence of a superficial water table, and relate them to the precipitation thresholds that could potentially cause landslides in the sector of Loja city. In order to conduct this research, a physical and experimental model was developed. Additionally, various samples of clayey and silty soil were obtained in order to determine the degree of saturation that causes flow within these soil. The experiments were conducted as a function of water supply at the surface of the soil samples. As a result, a relationship between the local superficial water supply with local the precipitation was obtained. This research determined that, due to its differences, the experimental model was only suitable for the silty soils. In terms of permeability, clays are significantly less permeable than silts, additionally, clays do not tend to expand whereas silts do. These two characteristics of the soils are of great importance when the tests were performed in the physical and experimental model. Clays have a higher liquid limit value compared to that of silts, hence, silty soils tend to change from a solid state to a liquid one faster than clayey soils, this phenomenon is known as liquefaction.