Abstract: The soil water retention curve (SWRC) tests under the three different temperatures are carried out. The volume shrinkage deformations also are measured at the same time to amendment miscount caused by volume change. The test result shows that the shrinkage is obvious in the drying process, the void ratio reduced to 0.645 from 0.675, but the difference of final void ratio under different temperatures is only 0.003; it is shown that the silt’s deformation is not sensitive to temperature. The water holding capacity is significant different under the action of different temperatures. The air-entry value is smaller when the temperature increased. The difference of water holding capacity reach maximum under the action of suction of 50 kPa. The water content is 0.397, 0.361 and 0.338 respectively under the temperatures of 20 ℃, 30 ℃, 40 ℃; but the difference is decreasing with the suction increased. The water physical properties, water and gas’s occurrence are changed under the different temperatures and it lead to the changing of the water holding capacity.

Key words: soil water retention curve, temperature, drying deformation, water retention mechanism