A novel hysteresis model in unsaturated soil

This study presents a novel hysteresis model based on van Genuchten's soil-moisture relationships. The proposed model yields a series of closed-form relationships in which two shape factors alpha and eta are determined from the main drying and wetting curves. Experimental and literature-cited data were used to assess model accuracy. The proposed model was also compared with the Scott and KP models. Analytical results indicate that the present model is simple, accurate and effective in constructing the series of wetting and drying scanning curves. Notably, the proposed model outperforms the Scott and KP models in terms of model accuracy. Moreover, the novel model eliminates the pumping effect and has perfect closure at scanning curve reversal points. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.