Unfrozen water content in saline soils: results using time-domain reflectometry

The use of time-domain reflectometry (TDR) for determining the phase composition of saline permafrost from measurement of the apparent dielectric constant, K a , is examined.Combined TDR–dilatometry experiments were performed to assess whether the TDR method could be used on frozen soil samples with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Geotechnical Journal
Main Authors: Patterson, D. E., Smith, M. W.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1985
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t85-009
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/t85-009
Description
Summary:The use of time-domain reflectometry (TDR) for determining the phase composition of saline permafrost from measurement of the apparent dielectric constant, K a , is examined.Combined TDR–dilatometry experiments were performed to assess whether the TDR method could be used on frozen soil samples with high pore water salinity. In general, unfrozen water content determinations by TDR were within ±0.025 cm 3 ∙cm −3 of those obtained by dilatometry, with no marked influence due to salinity. A novel probe design for use on saline core samples shows promise as a means for determining unfrozen water contents in the field.