The current design procedure for cantilever structures on spread footings in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is based on horizontal pressure that is calculated by using Rankine's and Coulomb's theory. These are classical Geotechnical Engineering methods. Horizontal earth pressure due to moisture and volume change in high plasticity soil is not determined by these classical methods. However, horizontal pressure on most of the cantilever retaining structures in Texas is determined by following the classical methods. In recent years, a number of consultants have considered the horizontal pressure due to swelling on cantilever retaining structures in Texas. However, the proposed horizontal pressure by consultants is 10-20 times higher than the classical horizontal pressure. This method of cantilever retaining structure design without knowing the real pressure and stress pattern increases the thickness of the wall, and raises the cost of construction. This study focuses on providing adequate patterns of lateral earth pressure distribution on cantilever retaining structures in expansive soil. These retaining wall structures are subject to swelling pressures which cause horizontal pressures that are larger than the classical especially near the ground surface. Beside the prediction of lateral earth pressure distribution, the relations between water content, volume change and suction change are determined. Based on the laboratory testing program conducted, Soil Water Characteristic Curves (SWCC) are determined for a site located at the intersection of I-35 and Walters Street in San Antonio, Texas. Additionally, relations between volume change with confining pressure curve, water content change with the change of confining pressure curve, water content change with change of matric suction and volume change with change of matric suction curves are generated based on laboratory tests. There are a number of available mass volume measurement methods that use mostly mercury or paraffin to obtain volume measurements. Although these methods are reported in the literature, they are not used in practice due to application limitations like safety, time, and cost. In order to overcome these limitations, a new method was developed to measure the volume of soil mass by using sand displacement. This new method is an inexpensive, safe, and simple way to measure mass volume by Ottawa sand.

A mecânica dos solos não saturados tem se tornado um importante tema de pesquisas dedicadas a entender o comportamento dos solos não saturados e otimizar sua utilização em várias obras civis. A curva de retenção de água, definida como a relação entre a sucção e a quantidade de água presente no solo, é considerada um elemento chave na interpretação do comportamento e propriedades dos solos não saturados tais como a condutividade hidráulica e a resistência ao cisalhamento. Este trabalho apresenta a estrutura de um banco de dados projetado para armazenar informações de solos brasileiros com enfoque nas características de retenção de água. O banco de dados inclui a curva de retenção e os parâmetros de ajuste das equações de van Genuchten (1980) e Fredlund & Xing (1994), assim como informações das características dos solos como índices físicos, classificações dos solos, análises granulométricas, índices de consistência e localização e estado da amostra. Além da estimativa da função condutividade hidráulica, o banco de dados oferece duas ferramentas que permitem a pesquisa rápida ou detalhada das informações e os dados armazenados podem ser mostrados na tela ou em relatórios impressos / Unsaturated soil mechanics has become an important subject of research devoted to understand the behavior of unsaturated soils and optimize their use in several civil works. The soil-water characteristic curve, defined as the relationship between the suction and the amount of water present in the soil, is considered as the key in the interpretation of the behavior and properties of unsaturated soils, such as the hydraulic conductivity and the shear strength. This paper presents the structure of a database designed to store information of brazilian soils with focus in the characteristics of water retention. The database includes the retention curves and the parameters of adjusted van Genuchten and Fredlund & Xing equations and also information of soil characteristics such as physical indexes, soil classifications, particle-size analysis, consistency indexes and location and kind of used samples. Beyond the estimate of hydraulic conductivity, the database presents two search tools that allow for quick and detailed recovering of information and stored data can be displayed on screen or in printed reports

The primary objective of this thesis is to develop a model for quantification of weather-related railway embankments hazards. The model for quantification of embankment hazards constitutes an essential component of a decision support system that is required for the management of railway embankment hazards. A model for the deterministic and probabilistic assessment of weather-related geo-hazards (W-GHA model) is proposed based on concepts of unsaturated soil mechanics and hydrology. The model combines a system of two-dimensional partial differential equations governing the thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of saturated/unsaturated soils and soil-atmosphere coupling equations. A Dynamic Programming algorithm for slope stability analysis (Safe-DP) was developed and incorporated into the W-GHA model. Finally, an efficient probabilistic and sensitivity analysis framework based on an alternative point estimate method was proposed. According to the W-GHA model framework, railway embankment hazards are assessed based on factors of safety and probabilities of failures computed using soil property variability and case scenarios. <p> A comprehensive study of unsaturated property variability is presented. A methodology for the characterization and assessment of unsaturated soil property variability is proposed. Appropriate fitting equations and parameter were selected. Probability density functions adequate for representing the unsaturated soil parameters studied were determined. Typical central tendency measures, variability measures, and correlation coefficients were established for the unsaturated soil parameters. The inherent variability of the unsaturated soil properties can be addressed using the probabilistic analysis framework proposed herein. <p> A large number of hypothetical railway embankments were analysed using the proposed model. The embankment analyses were undertaken in order to demonstrate the application of the proposed model and in order to determine the sensitivity of the factor of safety to the uncertainty in several input variables. The conclusions drawn from the sensitivity analysis study resulted in important simplifications of the W-GHA model. It was shown how unsaturated soil mechanics can be applied for the assessment of near ground surface stability hazards. The approach proposed in this thesis forms a protocol for application of unsaturated soil mechanics into geotechnical engineering practice. This protocol is based on predicted unsaturated soil properties and based on the use of case scenarios for addressing soil property uncertainty. Other classes of unsaturated soil problems will benefit from the protocol presented in this thesis.

The primary objective of this thesis is to develop a model for quantification of weather-related railway embankments hazards. The model for quantification of embankment hazards constitutes an essential component of a decision support system that is required for the management of railway embankment hazards. A model for the deterministic and probabilistic assessment of weather-related geo-hazards (W-GHA model) is proposed based on concepts of unsaturated soil mechanics and hydrology. The model combines a system of two-dimensional partial differential equations governing the thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of saturated/unsaturated soils and soil-atmosphere coupling equations. A Dynamic Programming algorithm for slope stability analysis (Safe-DP) was developed and incorporated into the W-GHA model. Finally, an efficient probabilistic and sensitivity analysis framework based on an alternative point estimate method was proposed. According to the W-GHA model framework, railway embankment hazards are assessed based on factors of safety and probabilities of failures computed using soil property variability and case scenarios. <p> A comprehensive study of unsaturated property variability is presented. A methodology for the characterization and assessment of unsaturated soil property variability is proposed. Appropriate fitting equations and parameter were selected. Probability density functions adequate for representing the unsaturated soil parameters studied were determined. Typical central tendency measures, variability measures, and correlation coefficients were established for the unsaturated soil parameters. The inherent variability of the unsaturated soil properties can be addressed using the probabilistic analysis framework proposed herein. <p> A large number of hypothetical railway embankments were analysed using the proposed model. The embankment analyses were undertaken in order to demonstrate the application of the proposed model and in order to determine the sensitivity of the factor of safety to the uncertainty in several input variables. The conclusions drawn from the sensitivity analysis study resulted in important simplifications of the W-GHA model. It was shown how unsaturated soil mechanics can be applied for the assessment of near ground surface stability hazards. The approach proposed in this thesis forms a protocol for application of unsaturated soil mechanics into geotechnical engineering practice. This protocol is based on predicted unsaturated soil properties and based on the use of case scenarios for addressing soil property uncertainty. Other classes of unsaturated soil problems will benefit from the protocol presented in this thesis.

In many situations, the upper layers of soil above the ground water table are in a state of unsaturated condition. Although unsaturated soils are found throughout the world, they are predominant in arid or semi-arid regions. In these areas, the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) which relates the water content to the matric suction could be used as key tool to implement the mechanics of unsaturated soils into the designs of geotechnical structures such as dams, embankments, pavements, canals, and foundations. Several experimental techniques are available for determining the SWCC in a laboratory environment. However, these experimental techniques are expensive, time consuming typically requiring days or weeks, depending on the soil type, and demanding intricate testing equipment. Due to these reasons, there has been a growing interest to find other means for estimating SWCC and encourage the adoption of unsaturated soils mechanics in geotechnical engineering practice. Several methods exist to indirectly estimate the SWCC from basic soil properties. Some may include statistical estimation of the water content at selected matric suction values, correlation of soil properties with the fitting parameters of an analytical equation that represents the SWCC, estimation of the SWCC using a physics-based conceptual model, and artificial intelligence methods such as neural networks or genetic programming. However, many studies have shown that environmental effects such as temperature, soil structure, initial water content, void ratio, stress history, compaction method, etc. can also affect the SWCC. This means that the estimation SWCC from set of conditions may not reliably predict the SWCC in other conditions. Due to this reason, it is crucial for engineers involved with unsaturated soils to take into account all the factors that influence the SWCC. The two key objectives of the present thesis are the development of a method based on first principles, using the capillary rise theory, to predict the variation of the SWCC as a function of temperature, as well as developing a technique for the prediction of the fixed parameters of a well-known function representing the SWCC based on basic soil properties together with the moisture profile of a soil column subjected to a known temperature gradient. A rational approach using capillary rise theory and the effect of temperature on surface tension and liquid density is developed to study the relation between temperature and the parameters of the Fredlund and Xing (1994) equation. Several tests, using a Tempe cell submerged in a controlled temperature bath, were performed to determine the SWCC of two coarse-grained soils at different temperatures. A good comparison between the predicted SWCC at different temperatures using the proposed model and the measured values from the Tempe cell test results is achieved. Within the scope of this thesis, a separate testing program was undertaken to indirectly estimate the SWCC of the same two coarse-grained soils from the measurement of their steady state soil-moisture profile while subjected to a fixed temperature differences. The water potential equation in the liquid and vapor phases is used to analyses the steady state flow conditions in the unsaturated soil. A good comparison is obtained for the SWCC estimated using this technique with the SWCC measured used a Tempe cell submerged in a controlled temperature bath. The results of this study indicate that knowledge of the moisture content of a soil specimen under a constant thermal gradient and basic soil properties can be used to estimate the SWCC of the soil at the desired temperature.

abstract: The infrastructure is built in Unsaturated Soils. However, the geotechnical practitioners insist in designing the structures based on Saturated Soil Mechanics. The design of structures based on unsaturated soil mechanics is desirable because it reduces cost and it is by far a more sustainable approach. The research community has identified the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve as the most important soil property when dealing with unsaturated conditions. This soil property is unpopular among practitioners because the laboratory testing takes an appreciable amount of time. Several authors have attempted predicting the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve; however, most of the published predictions are based on a very limited soil database. The National Resources Conservation Service has a vast database of engineering soil properties with more than 36,000 soils, which includes water content measurements at different levels of suctions. This database was used in this study to validate two existing models that based the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve prediction on statistical analysis. It was found that although the predictions are acceptable for some ranges of suctions; they did not performed that well for others. It was found that the first model validated was accurate for fine-grained soils, while the second model was best for granular soils. For these reasons, two models to estimate the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve are proposed. The first model estimates the fitting parameters of the Fredlund and Xing (1994) function separately and then, the predicted parameters are fitted to the Fredlund and Xing function for an overall estimate of the degree of saturation. Results show an overall improvement on the predicted values when compared to existing models. The second model is based on the relationship between the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve and the Pore-Size Distribution of the soils. The process allows for the prediction of the entire Soil-Water Characteristic Curve function and proved to be a better approximation than that used in the first attempt. Both models constitute important tools in the implementation of unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice due to the link of the prediction with simple and well known engineering soil properties. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering 2011

Para a determinação do comportamento de um solo não saturado, é necessária a identificação da sua curva característica, que representa a capacidade de armazenamento de água pelo solo em função do valor de sucção imposto. Quando este solo é submetido a algum processo de contaminação, a sua estrutura interna pode ser alterada por processos físico-químicos, modificando, por conseqüência, o seu comportamento. Esta dissertação propõe uma metodologia de ensaio para a determinação de curvas características de sucção total em um solo artificialmente contaminado com diferentes teores de óleo diesel. O programa experimental proposto consiste basicamente na realização do método do papel filtro, através da técnica sem contato entre a amostra e o papel, com algumas modificações em relação às metodologias anteriormente descritas na literatura geotécnica. Foram também executados ensaios para controle e quantificação da evaporação do contaminante ao longo do tempo, e sua possível absorção pelo papel filtro utilizado. Além disso, foram realizados ensaios para a caracterização física, mineralógica e química do solo, antes e após a adição do óleo, com o intuito de constatar as alterações causadas pela contaminação. O material estudado é constituído por sedimentos coluvionares provenientes de arenito da Formação Botucatu, sendo que sua curva característica, sem contaminação, já foi determinada em um estudo anterior, através do método do papel filtro com contato. Para possibilitar comparações entre estes resultados, foram medidos também alguns pontos em amostras não contaminadas, através da técnica proposta nesta dissertação. Estes apresentaram uma satisfatória concordância em relação à curva anteriormente ajustada. Na análise das curvas características do solo contaminado com 2%, 5%, 10% e 15% de óleo diesel, constatou-se a permanência do formato bimodal, sugerindo que a microestrutura e a macroestrutura continuam influenciando na entrada e saída de água do meio. Entretanto, foram identificadas alterações na forma da curva e na extensão dos patamares resultantes, em relação à curva característica sem contaminação, assim como as diferentes localizações dos valores de entrada de ar. Foi verificado que, conforme o aumento do teor de contaminante, há uma gradual tendência ao formato unimodal da curva característica, induzindo a um comportamento de solo tipicamente granular. Este fato foi comprovado nos resultados de microscopia eletrônica, onde se verifica que, com teores menores de óleo, a estrutura do solo encontra-se mais fechada e, à medida que este teor aumenta, a estrutura torna-se mais porosa. Os tempos de equalização para o método de ensaio proposto variaram entre 7 e 30 dias, conforme o nível de sucção da amostra. A avaliação da histerese revelou que, com o aumento do teor de contaminante, há uma pequena redução deste fenômeno. Além disso, os ensaios complementares comprovaram a existência de uma pequena porcentagem de evaporação do óleo diesel, assim como a absorção do mesmo pelo papel filtro, que se apresentou praticamente nula. / The unsaturated soil behavior can be determined through its soil-water characteristic curve, which represents the capacity of the soil to store water when submitted to different suction levels. When this soil is contaminated, its internal structure can be modified according to physical and chemical processes, thus changing the initial behavior. This dissertation proposes a test methodology to determine the total-suction soil-water characteristic curves of a contaminated soil at different diesel oil contents. The experimental program consisted of using the filter-paper method without contact between the sample and the paper, but with some modifications in relation to previously studied techniques. Some control tests were also carried out to check oil evaporation and its absortion by the filter paper. Besides, the samples were submitted to physical, mineralogical and chemical characterization, before and after contamination, to verify the possible changes. The studied material is a colluvium soil, constituted basically by sandstone, from the Botucatu Formation. This soil was previously studied by the filter-paper method with contact, and its soil water characteristic curve without contamination was already known. To compare the results, the proposed test methodology was also performed with non contaminated samples, showing a satisfactory agreement with the initial curve. The soil-water characteristic curves of this soil with a diesel oil content of 2%, 5%, 10% and 15% showed a "saddle" shape, indicating that both the microstructure and the macrostructure were influenced by the entrance and exit of water through the soil. However, the shape of the curve and the extent of its plateau changed according to the level of contamination. Increasing the oil content, the curve tends to a unimodal shape, with a behavior similar to granular soils. This statement was proved by the microstruture photographs, which showed an increase of sample porosity due to the increase of oil content. The time required to reach suction equilibrium during the tests varied between 7 to 30 days, according to the initial water content of the samples. The observed hysteresis had a small reduction with the increase of oil content. The control tests proved that oil evaporation and its absortion by the filter paper were insignificant in the whole test program.

Para a determinação do comportamento de um solo não saturado, é necessária a identificação da sua curva característica, que representa a capacidade de armazenamento de água pelo solo em função do valor de sucção imposto. Quando este solo é submetido a algum processo de contaminação, a sua estrutura interna pode ser alterada por processos físico-químicos, modificando, por conseqüência, o seu comportamento. Esta dissertação propõe uma metodologia de ensaio para a determinação de curvas características de sucção total em um solo artificialmente contaminado com diferentes teores de óleo diesel. O programa experimental proposto consiste basicamente na realização do método do papel filtro, através da técnica sem contato entre a amostra e o papel, com algumas modificações em relação às metodologias anteriormente descritas na literatura geotécnica. Foram também executados ensaios para controle e quantificação da evaporação do contaminante ao longo do tempo, e sua possível absorção pelo papel filtro utilizado. Além disso, foram realizados ensaios para a caracterização física, mineralógica e química do solo, antes e após a adição do óleo, com o intuito de constatar as alterações causadas pela contaminação. O material estudado é constituído por sedimentos coluvionares provenientes de arenito da Formação Botucatu, sendo que sua curva característica, sem contaminação, já foi determinada em um estudo anterior, através do método do papel filtro com contato. Para possibilitar comparações entre estes resultados, foram medidos também alguns pontos em amostras não contaminadas, através da técnica proposta nesta dissertação. Estes apresentaram uma satisfatória concordância em relação à curva anteriormente ajustada. Na análise das curvas características do solo contaminado com 2%, 5%, 10% e 15% de óleo diesel, constatou-se a permanência do formato bimodal, sugerindo que a microestrutura e a macroestrutura continuam influenciando na entrada e saída de água do meio. Entretanto, foram identificadas alterações na forma da curva e na extensão dos patamares resultantes, em relação à curva característica sem contaminação, assim como as diferentes localizações dos valores de entrada de ar. Foi verificado que, conforme o aumento do teor de contaminante, há uma gradual tendência ao formato unimodal da curva característica, induzindo a um comportamento de solo tipicamente granular. Este fato foi comprovado nos resultados de microscopia eletrônica, onde se verifica que, com teores menores de óleo, a estrutura do solo encontra-se mais fechada e, à medida que este teor aumenta, a estrutura torna-se mais porosa. Os tempos de equalização para o método de ensaio proposto variaram entre 7 e 30 dias, conforme o nível de sucção da amostra. A avaliação da histerese revelou que, com o aumento do teor de contaminante, há uma pequena redução deste fenômeno. Além disso, os ensaios complementares comprovaram a existência de uma pequena porcentagem de evaporação do óleo diesel, assim como a absorção do mesmo pelo papel filtro, que se apresentou praticamente nula. / The unsaturated soil behavior can be determined through its soil-water characteristic curve, which represents the capacity of the soil to store water when submitted to different suction levels. When this soil is contaminated, its internal structure can be modified according to physical and chemical processes, thus changing the initial behavior. This dissertation proposes a test methodology to determine the total-suction soil-water characteristic curves of a contaminated soil at different diesel oil contents. The experimental program consisted of using the filter-paper method without contact between the sample and the paper, but with some modifications in relation to previously studied techniques. Some control tests were also carried out to check oil evaporation and its absortion by the filter paper. Besides, the samples were submitted to physical, mineralogical and chemical characterization, before and after contamination, to verify the possible changes. The studied material is a colluvium soil, constituted basically by sandstone, from the Botucatu Formation. This soil was previously studied by the filter-paper method with contact, and its soil water characteristic curve without contamination was already known. To compare the results, the proposed test methodology was also performed with non contaminated samples, showing a satisfactory agreement with the initial curve. The soil-water characteristic curves of this soil with a diesel oil content of 2%, 5%, 10% and 15% showed a "saddle" shape, indicating that both the microstructure and the macrostructure were influenced by the entrance and exit of water through the soil. However, the shape of the curve and the extent of its plateau changed according to the level of contamination. Increasing the oil content, the curve tends to a unimodal shape, with a behavior similar to granular soils. This statement was proved by the microstruture photographs, which showed an increase of sample porosity due to the increase of oil content. The time required to reach suction equilibrium during the tests varied between 7 to 30 days, according to the initial water content of the samples. The observed hysteresis had a small reduction with the increase of oil content. The control tests proved that oil evaporation and its absortion by the filter paper were insignificant in the whole test program.

A mecânica dos solos não saturados tem se tornado um importante tema de pesquisas dedicadas a entender o comportamento dos solos não saturados e otimizar sua utilização em várias obras civis. A curva de retenção de água, definida como a relação entre a sucção e a quantidade de água presente no solo, é considerada um elemento chave na interpretação do comportamento e propriedades dos solos não saturados tais como a condutividade hidráulica e a resistência ao cisalhamento. Este trabalho apresenta a estrutura de um banco de dados projetado para armazenar informações de solos brasileiros com enfoque nas características de retenção de água. O banco de dados inclui a curva de retenção e os parâmetros de ajuste das equações de van Genuchten (1980) e Fredlund & Xing (1994), assim como informações das características dos solos como índices físicos, classificações dos solos, análises granulométricas, índices de consistência e localização e estado da amostra. Além da estimativa da função condutividade hidráulica, o banco de dados oferece duas ferramentas que permitem a pesquisa rápida ou detalhada das informações e os dados armazenados podem ser mostrados na tela ou em relatórios impressos / Unsaturated soil mechanics has become an important subject of research devoted to understand the behavior of unsaturated soils and optimize their use in several civil works. The soil-water characteristic curve, defined as the relationship between the suction and the amount of water present in the soil, is considered as the key in the interpretation of the behavior and properties of unsaturated soils, such as the hydraulic conductivity and the shear strength. This paper presents the structure of a database designed to store information of brazilian soils with focus in the characteristics of water retention. The database includes the retention curves and the parameters of adjusted van Genuchten and Fredlund & Xing equations and also information of soil characteristics such as physical indexes, soil classifications, particle-size analysis, consistency indexes and location and kind of used samples. Beyond the estimate of hydraulic conductivity, the database presents two search tools that allow for quick and detailed recovering of information and stored data can be displayed on screen or in printed reports

Para a determinação do comportamento de um solo não saturado, é necessária a identificação da sua curva característica, que representa a capacidade de armazenamento de água pelo solo em função do valor de sucção imposto. Quando este solo é submetido a algum processo de contaminação, a sua estrutura interna pode ser alterada por processos físico-químicos, modificando, por conseqüência, o seu comportamento. Esta dissertação propõe uma metodologia de ensaio para a determinação de curvas características de sucção total em um solo artificialmente contaminado com diferentes teores de óleo diesel. O programa experimental proposto consiste basicamente na realização do método do papel filtro, através da técnica sem contato entre a amostra e o papel, com algumas modificações em relação às metodologias anteriormente descritas na literatura geotécnica. Foram também executados ensaios para controle e quantificação da evaporação do contaminante ao longo do tempo, e sua possível absorção pelo papel filtro utilizado. Além disso, foram realizados ensaios para a caracterização física, mineralógica e química do solo, antes e após a adição do óleo, com o intuito de constatar as alterações causadas pela contaminação. O material estudado é constituído por sedimentos coluvionares provenientes de arenito da Formação Botucatu, sendo que sua curva característica, sem contaminação, já foi determinada em um estudo anterior, através do método do papel filtro com contato. Para possibilitar comparações entre estes resultados, foram medidos também alguns pontos em amostras não contaminadas, através da técnica proposta nesta dissertação. Estes apresentaram uma satisfatória concordância em relação à curva anteriormente ajustada. Na análise das curvas características do solo contaminado com 2%, 5%, 10% e 15% de óleo diesel, constatou-se a permanência do formato bimodal, sugerindo que a microestrutura e a macroestrutura continuam influenciando na entrada e saída de água do meio. Entretanto, foram identificadas alterações na forma da curva e na extensão dos patamares resultantes, em relação à curva característica sem contaminação, assim como as diferentes localizações dos valores de entrada de ar. Foi verificado que, conforme o aumento do teor de contaminante, há uma gradual tendência ao formato unimodal da curva característica, induzindo a um comportamento de solo tipicamente granular. Este fato foi comprovado nos resultados de microscopia eletrônica, onde se verifica que, com teores menores de óleo, a estrutura do solo encontra-se mais fechada e, à medida que este teor aumenta, a estrutura torna-se mais porosa. Os tempos de equalização para o método de ensaio proposto variaram entre 7 e 30 dias, conforme o nível de sucção da amostra. A avaliação da histerese revelou que, com o aumento do teor de contaminante, há uma pequena redução deste fenômeno. Além disso, os ensaios complementares comprovaram a existência de uma pequena porcentagem de evaporação do óleo diesel, assim como a absorção do mesmo pelo papel filtro, que se apresentou praticamente nula. / The unsaturated soil behavior can be determined through its soil-water characteristic curve, which represents the capacity of the soil to store water when submitted to different suction levels. When this soil is contaminated, its internal structure can be modified according to physical and chemical processes, thus changing the initial behavior. This dissertation proposes a test methodology to determine the total-suction soil-water characteristic curves of a contaminated soil at different diesel oil contents. The experimental program consisted of using the filter-paper method without contact between the sample and the paper, but with some modifications in relation to previously studied techniques. Some control tests were also carried out to check oil evaporation and its absortion by the filter paper. Besides, the samples were submitted to physical, mineralogical and chemical characterization, before and after contamination, to verify the possible changes. The studied material is a colluvium soil, constituted basically by sandstone, from the Botucatu Formation. This soil was previously studied by the filter-paper method with contact, and its soil water characteristic curve without contamination was already known. To compare the results, the proposed test methodology was also performed with non contaminated samples, showing a satisfactory agreement with the initial curve. The soil-water characteristic curves of this soil with a diesel oil content of 2%, 5%, 10% and 15% showed a "saddle" shape, indicating that both the microstructure and the macrostructure were influenced by the entrance and exit of water through the soil. However, the shape of the curve and the extent of its plateau changed according to the level of contamination. Increasing the oil content, the curve tends to a unimodal shape, with a behavior similar to granular soils. This statement was proved by the microstruture photographs, which showed an increase of sample porosity due to the increase of oil content. The time required to reach suction equilibrium during the tests varied between 7 to 30 days, according to the initial water content of the samples. The observed hysteresis had a small reduction with the increase of oil content. The control tests proved that oil evaporation and its absortion by the filter paper were insignificant in the whole test program.