Numerical study of strength reduction-induced capillary rise effect for unsaturated soil

Previous studies postulated insignificant capillary rise (hc) effect above the water table (Hw) for unsaturated soils. In addition, these studies utilised dry unit weight above Hw. This paper, therefore, addresses the effect of these postulations on strength where the influence of hc using a modified upper bound approach, Discontinuity Layout Optimization (UNSAT-DLO) for a simulated soil was predicted. Two different parametric studies to model passive earth pressure and bearing capacity problems are carried out to provide an insight into the effect of capillary rise on strength. Significant increase in strength, owing to unsaturated conditions, was obtained where the maximum increase was when suction slightly less or greater than the air entry suction. On the other hand, the results showed a negative effect of hc. For example, up to 8.24% decrease in passive thrust (Pp) was obtained at Hw=0 m when hc rose 1 m from 0 m. To put this into perspective, this was equivalent to a decrease of about 2o in o at Hw=0 m and hc =0 m in order to obtain the same result at hc =1 m. For the bearing capacity problem, the effect was seen to be higher, up to 18.4% decrease in N was obtained when hc rose from 0 m to 2.5 m at Hw =0 m. In addition, the results revealed a negative influence of assigning dry unit weight above Hw or hc.. However, considerable increase in strength was obtained when unsaturated unit weight above hc was assigned.