Preliminary formulation of non-linear consolidation coefficients for unsaturated soil.

The water content is the amount of water contained in the medium – in this case, soil. The water contained in the soil represents soil condition, from the surface down to the ground. The surface position of the land to the groundwater table is referred to as the vadose zone, while the region below the groundwater level is called the saturated soil zone. The capillary fringe is a transitional zone between the vadose zone and the saturated soil zone. The unsaturated zone is defined as the part of the vadose zone between the ground surface and the capillary fringe. Distribution of water content in the soil is closely related to infiltration and consolidation processes. Infiltration is the process of water flow from the surface into the ground, while consolidation is the process of water dissipation from the soil pore medium due to the loading that causing a decline in volume or the soil pore cavity. Infiltration and consolidation are closely related to the compositional changes in water and air content of the soil. Groundwater scientific developments, in terms of engineering, science and technology, have been impactful. This research involves the investigation of a correlation between the distribution of water content and unsaturated consolidation and is expected to offer new insights in groundwater science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]