Prediction of soil-water retention properties of a lime-stabilised compacted silt

The applicability of semi-empirical prediction methods of the water retention properties of unsaturated soils has been examined in detail. Among these methods, those based on the particle size distribution of samples seem to be very effective in predicting the soil water retention curve, as well as being very advantageous for their simplicity. On the other hand, other methods allow predicting indirectly the soil water retention curve from the mercury intrusion porosimetry technique. In the paper experimental soil water retention curves (SWRCs) of a natural and lime stabilised compacted silt, obtained from pressure plate tests and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests, are respectively compared with those predicted by pore size distribution model and mercury intrusion porosimetry models. The comparison allows a critical review of the prediction methods and highlights the consistency of the predicted and the observed water retention properties of both natural and lime stabilised samples.