The use of indicator tests to estimate the drying leg of the soil-water characteristic curve

Wetting and drying soil-water characteristic curves were determined for undisturbed soil samples, of both transported and residual origin. Indicator tests were performed on the samples and relationships between them and the corresponding characteristic curve investigated. It was found that for fine grained soils of transported origin, the drying legs of the characteristic curves are related to the indicator tests. No relationship is evident between the indicators and characteristic curves for residual soils or for the wetting leg of the curve. From this information a preliminary estimate of moisture content changes during drying, associated with suction changes, can be assessed, and likely changes of volume, shear strength, permeability and water storage in fine grained undisturbed unsaturated transported soils subsequently estimated.