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To cite this article: Moataz A. Al-Obaydi, Ibrahim M. Al-Kiki & Abdulrahman H. Aldaood (2019):
Effect of swelling on the shear strength behaviour of expansive soil, International Journal of
Geotechnical Engineering, DOI: 10.1080/19386362.2019.1651043
Article views: 3
CONTACT Moataz A. Al-Obaydi dralobaydi@yahoo.com Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
© 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
2 M. A. AL-OBAYDI ET AL.
Table 1. Chemical and physical properties of the natural soil. respectively. For each identified SF value, the free swell test
Properties Value was performed, and accordingly, the samples were allowed to
Liquid Limit (%) 84 reach the specific value of swell percentage (e.g., 2.6%, which
Plastic Limit (%) 37
Plasticity Index (%) 47
is 20% of the total swell potential). Thereafter, normal shear
Shrinkage Limit (%) 14 stresses were applied to the samples and the shearing process
Linear shrinkage (%) 20 was carried out. The entire process is described in Figure 3(a).
Total Soluble salts (%) 3
Specific Gravity 2.76
Accordingly, six UDST sets were performed.
pH 7.96
CEC 32 2.3.2 Shearing under various swelling pressures
Sand (%) 3
Silt (%) 47
In this method, the samples were inundated in water and a con-
Clay (%) 50 stant volume test was carried out until the swelling pressure
Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) CH (Fat Clay) reached a specific value from the overall swelling pressure obtained
Standard Compaction Optimum Moisture Content 27 previously (370 kN/m2), as described in Figure 3(b). The propor-
Max. Dry Unit Weight (kN/m3) 14.05 tions were 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%, which are equiva-
Modified Compaction Optimum Moisture Content 24
(Max. Dry Unit Weight) (kN/m3) 15.65 lent to specific values of the swelling pressure (SP), namely, 0, 74,
148, 222, 296, and 370 kN/m2. Subsequently, normal stresses were
applied and the shearing process was carried out on six UDST sets.
σn
free swell test
τ
P P-ΔP (P-ΔP)+σn
P P+σn
P P σn
τ
volume was achieved. Instantly, the shearing process was carried initial normal load (P) of 100, 275, 550, and 830 kN/m2.
out, as defined in Figure 3(c). For each of the specific normal loads Accordingly, the swelling or consolidation of the soil depends on
mentioned above, the proportions of load lifted were 0%, 25%, the amount of subjected normal load. When the maximum volume
50%, 75% and 100%. As an example for a specified load P = 100 changes were achieved, the entire applied normal load was lifted (P
kN/m2, if 25% of the load was lifted, i.e., ΔP = 25 kN/m2, the = 0), allowing the samples to experience swelling. As shown in
remaining load is (P-ΔP) = 75 kN/m2. Accordingly, 20 sets of Figure 3(e), this is a one-cycle process. Thereafter, UDST was
UDST were performed. carried out to find the shear strength parameters.
For two cycles and so on, the loading–unloading processes
2.3.4 Shearing under various initial normal loads were repeated and the UDST was then performed. In this study,
The samples were inundated under specific initial normal loads, one, two, three and, four cycles were considered for each specified
which caused settlement. When this settlement ceased and before normal load mentioned above, i.e., 16 sets, in addition to the case
the probability of swelling started, UDST was carried out under without loading, of UDST were performed.
the consolidation condition of the soil. The applied initial normal
loads (P) were 100, 275, 550, and 830 kN/m2, as defined in Figure
3(d). The test steps were repeated for each normal load applied, i. 3. Results and discussion
e., five sets of UDST were performed.
3.1 Effect of swelling potential
2.3.5 Application of loading–unloading cycles The samples were allowed to freely swell up to various per-
Loading–unloading cycles were performed to verify their effect on centages (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) of the total
the swelling behaviour and in turn on the shear strength of the soil. swelling potential of the soil (13%). Then, the shear strength
The samples were inundated in water for 24 h under each specified parameters were evaluated under such circumstances from
4 M. A. AL-OBAYDI ET AL.
350
SF= 0%
SF= 2.6%
300
SF= 5.2%
SF= 7.8%
250
150
100
50
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Normal stress (kN/m2)
120
25
100
80
60
20
40
20
0 15
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Swell potential, SF (%)
250
SF= 0%
Mohr–Coulomb failure envelopes plotted in Figure 4. The
SF= 2.6%
results presented in Figure 5 show that both shear strength
SF= 5.2%
parameters of the soil (c and ϕ) decrease with increasing swell
200 SF= 7.8%
potential. When the swell potential increased from 0% to
SF= 10.4%
13%, the cohesion intercept decreased by about 83% from
Shear Stress (kN/m2)
SF= 13.0%
150 kN/m2 to 26 kN/m2 and the angle of internal friction
decreased by about 42% from 26° to 15°. These reductions 150
may be attributed to the increase or enlarged voids with the
swelling occupied by water. Hence, soil particles had less
contact between each other, leading to the reduction in the
shear strength parameters. 100
The typical shear stress–strain curves plotted in Figure 6
show a reduction in the shear strength of the soil at failure
with increasing percentage of swell potential. With a high swell 50
potential, the soil behaved similar to a ductile material at failure,
exhibiting some brittleness with decreasing swell potential.
0
3.2 Effect of swelling pressure 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5 20
Shear strain (%)
To investigate the effects of swelling pressure, a shear test was
performed for each set after the swelling pressure reached 0%, Figure 6. Typical shear stress–strain curves for various percentages of swell potential.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 5
450
400
350
300
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Normal stress (kN/m2)
20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of the overall swelling pressure shear strength at failure obviously increased with increasing
of the soil (370 kN/m2). Figure 7 shows the Mohr–Coulomb percentage of swelling pressure. Under low percentages of
failure criterion considered to evaluate the shear strength of the swelling pressure, the soil exhibited a ductile behaviour,
soil. As shown in Figure 8, both shear strength parameters which changed gradually to a brittle behaviour with increas-
increased with increasing swelling pressure, i.e., increasing ing percentage of swelling pressure.
percentage of the overall swelling pressure. The cohesion inter-
cept increased by about 1.5 times (49%) from 150 kN/m2 to 220
3.3 Effect of stress relief
kN/m2 and the angle of internal friction increased by about 1.2
times (27%) from 26° to 33° when swelling pressure was The stress state was investigated by applying different initial
increased from zero to its maximum value. With the increasing loads (P) on the sample (100, 275, 550, and 830 kN/m2) for
percentage of applied swelling pressure, the ability of soil to each set of shear tests. Then, the load was lifted by amounts
swell decreases; hence, the soil exhibits higher shear strength. (ΔP) equal to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the applied
This is can be attributed to the decrease in void ratio with load (P). The results are presented in Figure 10(a and b). Both
increasing amount of swelling pressure. shear strength parameters decreased with the percentage relief
The typical shear stress–strain curves under various per- of the initial applied load. This can be attributed to the same
centages of swelling pressure are presented in Figure 9. The reason mentioned previously that the increase in the volume
Friction
200
35
Cohesion (kN/m2)
150
30
100
25
50
0 20
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Swelling pressure, SP (kN/m2)
Figure 8. Variation of shear strength parameters with swelling pressure.
6 M. A. AL-OBAYDI ET AL.
300
Initial normal load= 100 kN/m²
Initial normal load= 275 kN/m²
250 Initial normal load= 550 kN/m²
Initial normal load= 830 kN/m²
Cohesion (kN/m2)
200
150
100
50
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Stress relief percent (%)
40
Initial normal load= 100 kN/m²
Initial normal load= 275 kN/m²
Angle of internal friction (Ø°)
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strees relief percent (%)
Figure 10. a. Variation of cohesion (c) with stress relief. b. Variation of angle of friction (ϕ) with stress relief.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 7
350 40 160
250 120
Cohesion (kN/m2)
Initial normal load= 830 kN/m²
30
200 100
25
150 80
20 60
100
50 15 40
20
0 10
0 150 300 450 600 750 0
Initial normal load, P (kN/m2) 0 1 2 3 4 5
Figure 11. Variation of shear strength parameters with initial normal load (as Number of loading-unloading cycles
consolidated pressure).
(a) Variation of cohesion
30
Initial normal load= 100 kN/m²
0
3.5 Effect of loading–unloading cycles 0 1 2 3 4 5
The samples were subjected to various loading–unloading Number of loading-unloading cycles
cycles before the shear test. For normal loads of 100, 275, (b) Variation of angle of friction
550, and 830 kN/m2, 1, 2, 3 and 4 cycles were conducted.
Figure 12. a. Variation of cohesion (c) with number of loading-unloading cycles.
Figure 12(a) shows that the cohesion decreases with increas- b. Variation of angle of friction (ϕ) with number of loading-unloading cycles.
ing number of loading–unloading cycles. A similar trend was
observed for the angle of internal friction, as shown in Figure
12(b). This behaviour can be attributed to the fatigue that for one cycle, and 58% and 35% for four cycles. The rate of
occurs in soils with loading–unloading cycles, which causes a reduction in cohesion became stable after the first cycle, but
reduction in the shear strength of the soil. Under the normal minor reductions in the angle of internal friction appeared
load of 100 kN/m2, the reductions in cohesion and angle of after the third cycle. Al-Homoud et al. (1995) reported a
internal friction (c and ϕ) were 67% and 38%, respectively, for similar behaviour after the first cycle of wetting–drying on
1 cycle, and 72% and 54%, respectively, for four cycles. Under swelling pressure. As the normal load increased, the rate of
830 kN/m2 normal load, these reductions were 42% and 23% reduction in both shear strength parameters decreased after
500
400
Shear strength (kN/m2)
300
200
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400
Swell Pressure (kN/m2)
500
400
200
Initial normal load= 0 kN/m²
Initial normal load=100 kN/m²
100
Initial normal load= 200 kN/m²
Initial normal load= 300 kN/m²
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Consolidation Pressure (kN/m2)
Initial normal load=100 kN/m² was increased from zero to the maximum value (370
250
Shear strength (kN/m2)
(1) A reduction in the shear strength parameters (c and ϕ) Ibrahim M. Al-Kiki is Assist. Professor of Engineering Dams and Water
Resources, College of Engineering, University of Mosul. He has MSc in
was observed with increasing swelling potential from 2002. Member of Engineering Consulting Bureau.
zero to its maximum value by about 5.7 times (83%)
Abdulrahman H. Aldaood is lecturer in Civil Engineering Department,
for cohesion and 1.7 times (42%) for angle of internal
College of Engineering, University of Mosul. He has A PhD from
friction. Orleans, France in 2014. Member of Engineering Consulting Bureau.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 9