Soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration

This study investigated the soil matric suction distribution in a field covered by grass Axonopus Compressus and free from the effect of the tree. The research employed several approaches such as field monitoring, laboratory experimental, model proposal, coding program and slope stability. A field m...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ong, Choon Kian
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/79478/1/OngChoonKianPFKA2017.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
id my-utm-ep.79478
record_format uketd_dc
spelling my-utm-ep.794782018-10-31T12:41:36Z Soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration 2017 Ong, Choon Kian TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) This study investigated the soil matric suction distribution in a field covered by grass Axonopus Compressus and free from the effect of the tree. The research employed several approaches such as field monitoring, laboratory experimental, model proposal, coding program and slope stability. A field monitoring program was carried out from August to December 2015 to collect the data of matric suction by jet-filled tensiometer, accounting for less than 10 times of continuous drying of longer than 5 days over 5 months of measurement. The suction profiles show that the variation was greater in the root zone (< 30 cm) and less effect in deeper depth. The grass field failed to retain the soil suction, which dropped to a minimum magnitude at all depths after some rainfall event. Besides, the rate of evapotranspiration of grass was investigated by measuring the daily total weight loss of grass samples. The water loss from soil continuously even on full cloud rainy day. Generally, the water lost from soil to air every day even during the rainy day with the lower evaporation of 0.4-0.9 mm/day. The rate of evapotranspiration could reach almost 8.0 mm/day and around 5-6 mm/day on normal sunny day. A mathematical equation was proposed as the suction model by considered rooting depth and evapotranspiration to estimate the suction profile of soil after specific drying period. Proposed suction model and some existing water uptake models have been coded into a program by MATLAB graphical user interface. The code in the program was verified with a set of test plan to ensure the program works as planned and designed. The suction model has been validated with the site measurement data. The shallow slope stability was analysed by program SLIP4EX in saturated and unsaturated conditions. The enhancement due to the influence of grass induced suction and root tensile strength were provided in this research. The factor of safety against slope failure has improved 0.6-4.8% at various depths when the effect of suction included. The comparison between the effect of induced suction and root tensile strength showed better enhancement from mechanical effect since suction was not high. The contribution of suction was not affected by changes of soil cohesion, however, the effect is higher when friction angle of soil is high and angle of slope is low. This research developed mathematical equation for soil water uptake to deliver a better understanding of grass suction distribution and effect to the slope stability. 2017 Thesis http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/79478/ http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/79478/1/OngChoonKianPFKA2017.pdf application/pdf en public phd doctoral Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Civil Engineering Faculty of Civil Engineering
institution Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
collection UTM Institutional Repository
language English
topic TA Engineering (General)
Civil engineering (General)
spellingShingle TA Engineering (General)
Civil engineering (General)
Ong, Choon Kian
Soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration
description This study investigated the soil matric suction distribution in a field covered by grass Axonopus Compressus and free from the effect of the tree. The research employed several approaches such as field monitoring, laboratory experimental, model proposal, coding program and slope stability. A field monitoring program was carried out from August to December 2015 to collect the data of matric suction by jet-filled tensiometer, accounting for less than 10 times of continuous drying of longer than 5 days over 5 months of measurement. The suction profiles show that the variation was greater in the root zone (< 30 cm) and less effect in deeper depth. The grass field failed to retain the soil suction, which dropped to a minimum magnitude at all depths after some rainfall event. Besides, the rate of evapotranspiration of grass was investigated by measuring the daily total weight loss of grass samples. The water loss from soil continuously even on full cloud rainy day. Generally, the water lost from soil to air every day even during the rainy day with the lower evaporation of 0.4-0.9 mm/day. The rate of evapotranspiration could reach almost 8.0 mm/day and around 5-6 mm/day on normal sunny day. A mathematical equation was proposed as the suction model by considered rooting depth and evapotranspiration to estimate the suction profile of soil after specific drying period. Proposed suction model and some existing water uptake models have been coded into a program by MATLAB graphical user interface. The code in the program was verified with a set of test plan to ensure the program works as planned and designed. The suction model has been validated with the site measurement data. The shallow slope stability was analysed by program SLIP4EX in saturated and unsaturated conditions. The enhancement due to the influence of grass induced suction and root tensile strength were provided in this research. The factor of safety against slope failure has improved 0.6-4.8% at various depths when the effect of suction included. The comparison between the effect of induced suction and root tensile strength showed better enhancement from mechanical effect since suction was not high. The contribution of suction was not affected by changes of soil cohesion, however, the effect is higher when friction angle of soil is high and angle of slope is low. This research developed mathematical equation for soil water uptake to deliver a better understanding of grass suction distribution and effect to the slope stability.
format Thesis
qualification_name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
qualification_level Doctorate
author Ong, Choon Kian
author_facet Ong, Choon Kian
author_sort Ong, Choon Kian
title Soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration
title_short Soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration
title_full Soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration
title_fullStr Soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration
title_full_unstemmed Soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration
title_sort soil suction model for grass evapotranspiration
granting_institution Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Civil Engineering
granting_department Faculty of Civil Engineering
publishDate 2017
url http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/79478/1/OngChoonKianPFKA2017.pdf
_version_ 1747818236046475264