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

• 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: permafrost
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/t85-009; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/t85-009

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.