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The modelling of flow through saturated/unsaturated soils has become routine in geotechnical and geo-environmental engineering. The analysis requires that the coefficient of permeability for an unsaturated soil be defined. The coefficient of permeability can be estimated based on currently available procedures. However, each procedure has limitations and consequently cares should be taken in the selection of a proper procedure. The coefficient of permeability of a saturated soil is a function of void ratio. The coefficient of permeability of an unsaturated soil of constant volume, is a function of the degree of saturation. However, soil is deformable and both the degree of saturation and the void-ratio influence the coefficient of permeability of a compressible, unsaturated soil. In this paper, the literature pertaining to the coefficient of permeability function for an unsaturated soil of constant volume and the coefficient of permeability for a deformable saturated soil are reviewed. A new coefficient of permeability function for a deformable unsaturated porous medium is then developed. A series of triaxial permeameter tests on unsaturated silty sand are described and the results from the experimental program are analyzed using the general form of the newly developed permeability function. The results show good agreement between the experimental data and the proposed model for a deformable unsaturated porous medium.Key words: unsaturated soil, coefficient of permeability, permeability function, soil-water characteristic curve, triaxial permeameter, deformable porous medium.
Huang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.