The paper stresses the fundamental role of soil suction in applied problems involving unsaturated soils. Suction gradients largely control water flow and mechanical and hydraulic behavior depends on the current value of suction. The solution of practical problems requires first a correct identification of the causes of suction change, its quantification and its effect on properties. A review of applications has been made for soils covering a wide range of grain size, from rockfill aggregates to very active and expansive clays. Some case records are presented to illustrate specific features of behavior, which may be appropriately handled by modern tools of coupled flow-deformation analysis. The paper stresses also the value of suction controlled testing and field monitoring to get a proper insight into the different cases presented.
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