Modelling of soil-water retention curve considering the effects of existing salt solution in the pore fluid

Soil-water retention curve (SWRC) has a wide application in geoenvironmental engineering from the predication of unsaturated shear strength to transient two-phase flow and stability analyses. Although various SWRC models have been proposed take into account some influencing factors, less attention given consider effects pore fluid osmotic potential. Therefore, key objective this study is extend van Genchten’s model so that potential considered as an independent factor governing behavior. The new comprises only six variables, which can be calibrated through minimal experimental measurements. More importantly, most parameters physical meaning by correlating macroscopic volumetric behavior general trends results validation tests revealed osmotic-dependent predict data terms both total matric suction for two different soils molar concentrations very good. modeling approach does not require any advanced mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests, yet it deliver excellent predictions calibrating are far than those incorporated similar saline water permeating structure.