This document specifies laboratory methods for determination of the soil water-retention characteristic. This document applies only to measurements of the drying or desorption curve. Four methods are described to cover the complete range of soil water pressures as follows: a) method using sand, kaolin or ceramic suction tables for determination of matric pressures from 0 kPa to -50 kPa; b) method using a porous plate and burette apparatus for determination of matric pressures from 0 kPa to -20 kPa; c) method using a pressurized gas and a pressure plate extractor for determination of matric pressures from -5 kPa to -1 500 kPa; d) method using a pressurized gas and pressure membrane cells for determination of matric pressures from -33 kPa to -1 500 kPa. Guidelines are given to select the most suitable method in a particular case.
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Sisällysluettelo
Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Guidelines for choice of method
4.1 General
4.2 Sand, kaolin or ceramic suction tables for determination of pressures from 0 kPa to −50 kPa
4.3 Porous plate and burette apparatus for determination of pressures from 0 kPa to −20 kPa
4.4 Pressure plate extractor for determination of pressures from −5 kPa to −1 500 kPa
4.5 Pressure membrane cells for determination of pressures from −33 kPa to −1 500 kPa
5 Sampling
5.1 General requirements
5.2 Sample preparation
6 Determination of the soil water characteristic using sand, kaolin and ceramic suction tables
6.1 Principle
6.2 Apparatus
6.3 Preparation of suction tables
6.4 Procedure
6.5 Expression of results
7 Determination of soil water characteristic using a porous plate and burette
7.1 Principle
7.2 Apparatus
7.3 Assembly of porous plate/burette apparatus
7.4 Procedure
7.5 Expression of results
8 Determination of soil water characteristic by pressure plate extractor
8.1 Principle
8.2 Apparatus
8.3 Assembly of apparatus
8.4 Procedure
8.5 Calculation and expression of results
9 Determination of soil water characteristic using pressure membrane cells
9.1 Principle
9.2 Apparatus
9.3 Assembly of apparatus
9.4 Procedure
9.5 Expression of results
9.6 Test report
10 Test report
11 Precision
Annex A Construction of suction tables (informative)