LAUSR

Air permeability is one of the key parameters in performing consolidation analysis of unsaturated soil. Few data are available regarding the air permeability for intact loess under different applied stresses. The work reported in this paper evaluated the air permeability at isotropic stress using data obtained from laboratory investigations for intact loess. Air permeability tests were performed on specimens of intact loess at various water contents and isotropic stresses. Stress remarkably affected air permeability as a function of both liquid saturation and volumetric air content. There were all unique relationships not only between relative air permeability and liquid saturation as well as relative volumetric air content, but also between air permeability and modified air saturation for different stresses. The relative air permeability against liquid saturation could be well described by the Parker–van Genuchten–Mulaem (P-vG-M) model in terms of total liquid saturation. The relationship between relativ...