ABSTRACT
The inter-particle force due to meniscus at a contact point of particles is investigated and the relationship between inter-particle force, surface tension and suction is used to derive the relation between the inter-particle force and apparent cohesion for unsaturated sandy soil. The soil-water characteristic curve calculated by Kitamura’s model for unsaturated sandy soil is also used to relate the apparent cohesion to suction. Furthermore the inter-particle force is related to the apparent cohesion based on the mechanical and probabilistic consideration on the scale of soil particle size. Finally the relationship between the suction and apparent cohesion is calculated and applied to the stability analysis of tunnel heading in the sandy ground.
