Ground Improvement Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers

Volume 167 Issue GI2
Reducing heave of expansive clay beds
through granular pile–anchor groups
Phanikumar and Muthukumar
Ground Improvement 167 May 2014 Issue GI2
Pages 99–107 http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/grim.12.00009
Paper 1200009
Received 03/02/2012 Accepted 02/05/2013
Published online 13/09/2013
Keywords: anchors and anchorages/granular materials/geotechnical
engineering
ICE Publishing: All rights reserved

Reducing heave of expansive

clay beds through granular
pile–anchor groups
j
1 B. R. Phanikumar MTech, PhD j
2 M. Muthukumar MTech
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, VIT University, Vellore, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, VIT University,
India Vellore, India

j
1 j
2

The granular pile-anchor (GPA) foundation system, a more recent technique, has also been found to be quite
successful in controlling heave of expansive clay beds. This paper presents experimental data obtained from
laboratory-scale heave tests conducted on an unreinforced expansive clay bed (n 0) and expansive clay beds
reinforced by a single GPA (n 1), twin GPAs (n 2) and a group of GPAs laid in equilateral triangular pattern (n 3).
The thickness of all the test clay beds was 200 mm. Heave was monitored at different depths of clay beds as they
were inundated. Ground heave (or surface heave) was also monitored at different radial distances (r) from the centre
of the test tank. The unreinforced clay bed and the GPA-reinforced clay beds were identical with regard to thickness
(H), placement water content (w%) and dry density (ªd ). Heave decreased at all depths of the clay beds as the number
of the GPAs (n) increased. Furthermore, heave decreased with increasing depth (z) from the top of the clay beds.
Heave was measured to be 56.5, 48, 28.5 and 24 mm at the top of the clay bed, respectively, for n 0 (unreinforced
expansive clay bed), n 1, 2 and 3, indicating increased resistance to heave with increasing number of GPAs. The
factor of safety of the GPA foundation system against uplift also increased with increasing number of GPAs.

Notation 1. Introduction
Df diameter of the foundation Expansive soils are highly problematic with an inherent tendency
Dgpa diameter of the granular pile-anchor to undergo volumetric changes corresponding to changes in
Dr relative density of the granular pile material moisture regime (Chen, 1988). When expansive soils absorb
FS factor of safety water, they swell and thereby increase their volume, and when
FSI free swell index water evaporates from them, they shrink and thereby reduce their
H thickness of the clay bed volume (Lu and Likos, 2004; Lytton, 1994; Walsh et al., 1993;
K coefficient of lateral earth pressure Wheeler et al., 2003). Due to this alternate swelling and shrink-
Ks coefficient of lateral swelling pressure age, lightly loaded civil engineering structures such as residential
Lgpa length of granular pile-anchor buildings, pavements and canal linings, founded in these soils,
n number of granular pile-anchors are severely distressed causing heavy financial loss (Chen, 1988).
PR pullout resistance Replacement of expansive soils by non-expansive materials such
Pu uplift force as sand and gravels, artificial sand–clay and gravel–clay mixes,
ps swelling pressure chemical stabilisation using cement, lime, calcium chloride
r radial distance (CaCl2 ) and fly ash are all possible remediation measures
Sr degree of saturation (Phanikumar and Sharma, 2004; Phanikumar et al., 2001, 2009;
Wgpa weight of granular pile-anchor Rollings et al., 1999). It has been reported that the strength of
w water content expansive clays treated with lime increased when compacted dry
z depth of optimum (Ramesh and Sivapullaiah, 2010). Moreover, the
ªd dry density engineering behaviour of expansive clays of similar plasticity but
vo effective overburden pressure different clay mineralogy can be different though they are treated
j9, c9 effective shear parameters. with the same chemical additive and dosage (Chittoori and

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 Ground Improvement Reducing heave of expansive clay beds
Volume 167 Issue GI2 through granular pile–anchor groups
Phanikumar and Muthukumar

Puppala, 2011). In chemically stabilised expansive clays, leaching
of stabilising agent does occur, but without any loss of strength
(Chittoori et al., 2013). Furthermore, special foundation techni-
ques such as belled piers and under-reamed piles are innovative
foundation practices in expansive soils.
Recent research has shown that the granular pile-anchor founda-
tion technique is quite efficacious in controlling heave (Phaniku-
mar, 1997; Phanikumar and Sharma, 2004; Phanikumar et al.,
2004; Rao et al., 2007). A granular pile-anchor (GPA) is an
innovative modification of the conventional granular pile. In a
GPA the foundation is anchored to an anchor plate (or base plate)
at the bottom of the granular pile through a mild steel anchor
rod. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a GPA. As a
result of the anchor introduced in the granular pile, the system
becomes a tension-resistant foundation. Hence, the tensile uplift
force (Pu ) caused on the foundation by the swelling soils is
counteracted by shear resistance mobilised in the downward
direction over the cylindrical pile–soil interface. The uplift force
(Pu ) is caused by the swelling pressure (ps ) of the soil and the
resistance to uplift (PR ) is due to
(a) the weight of the GPA acting in the downward direction
(Wgpa )
(b) the shear resistance mobilised over the cylindrical pile–soil
interface due to the shear parameters of the interface, namely,
c9 and j9.
Figure 2 shows the forces acting on a GPA anchoring a circular
footing of diameter Df : The uplift force (Pu ) on the foundation
due to swelling pressure of the soil can be written as

 
Footing
 2  2
Pu ¼ ps D  n Dgpa
1: 4 f 4
Anchor rod

Granular pile-anchor
where ps is the swelling pressure acting on the base of the
Granular fill footing, n is the number of GPAs in the group anchoring the
foundation, Df is the diameter of the foundation and Dgpa is
the diameter of a single GPA. The resisting force (PR ) can be
written as
Anchor plate

Figure 1. Concept of a granular pile-anchor (GPA) 2: PR ¼ nfW gpa þ Dgpa Lgpa [c9 þ (K 9vo þ K s ps ) tan 9]g

Footing
Df

Uplift force (Pu) due to swelling

pressure on the footing

Anchor rod
Resistance to uplift

Granular pile-anchor
Lgpa

Lateral swelling pressure (Ks ps)

Anchor plate

Dgpa

Figure 2. Forces acting on a GPA

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 Ground Improvement Reducing heave of expansive clay beds
Volume 167 Issue GI2 through granular pile–anchor groups
Phanikumar and Muthukumar

where n is the number of GPAs in the group anchoring the Soil properties Value
foundation, Wgpa is the weight of a single GPA, Dgpa and Lgpa are
the diameter and length of the GPAs, respectively, K is the lateral Specific gravity 2.73
earth pressure coefficient, Ks is the lateral swell pressure coeffi- Grain size distribution:
cient and 9vo is the effective overburden pressure. Hence, the Gravel: % 0
factor of safety (FS) of a GPA foundation system against uplift is Sand: % 14
Silt: % 44
3: FS ¼ PR =Pu Clay: % 42
Consistency limits:
Liquid limit: % 102
Similarly, FS can also be determined for a square foundation of Plastic limit: % 20
side Df and for a rectangular foundation of length Lf and width Shrinkage limit: % 12
Df : A series of laboratory-scale model tests was conducted on Plasticity index: % 82
expansive clay beds reinforced with GPAs of varying diameter Free swell index (FSI): % 200
(Dgpa ), length (Lgpa ) and relative density (Dr ) to study the efficacy USCS classification CH
of this system (Phanikumar, 1997). Heave tests were conducted,
and the rate and amount of heave were studied in the light of the Table 1. Index properties of the expansive soil
above parameters. Test results showed that the amount of heave
and rate of heave decreased with the introduction of GPA in the
clay beds (Phanikumar, 1997; Phanikumar et al., 2004).
and 200 mm, giving an l/d ratio of 5. The thickness of the clay
This paper presents the results obtained from a laboratory-scale beds was also kept constant at 200 mm. The number of the GPAs,
test programme conducted on expansive clay beds reinforced with n, was varied as 0 (unreinforced clay bed), 1, 2 and 3.
GPA groups, varying the number of GPAs (n) as n ¼ 0, 1, 2 and
3. The objective of this research was to study (a) the group
behaviour of GPAs and (b) the amount of heave reduction a GPA 2.2.1 Surface footing
group can effect in comparison with a single GPA. Furthermore, In all the tests, a circular mild steel plate of diameter 180 mm
other significant aspects such as time required for saturation and and thickness 5 mm was used as the surface footing. In the case
equilibrium heave and heave variation with reference to depth of n ¼ 1, the surface footing had a central hole of 8 mm diameter
can be studied. to anchor a single GPA; in the case of n ¼ 2, the surface footing
had two symmetrical holes to anchor twin GPAs; and in the case
of n ¼ 3, the surface footing had three holes in equilateral
2. Experimental investigation triangular pattern to anchor three GPAs. In the case of unrein-
2.1 Test materials forced clay bed (n ¼ 0), the surface footing was plain with no
2.1.1 Expansive soil holes.
The expansive soil used in this investigation was collected at a
depth of 1.5 m from ground level from the town of Amalapuram, 2.3 Compaction of the GPA-reinforced expansive clay
Andhra Pradesh, India. The free swell index (FSI) of the soil was bed
200%. Table 1 shows the index properties of the soil. Based on Cylindrical metallic test tanks of size 400 mm diameter and
its liquid limit and plasticity index, the soil was classified as clay 300 mm height were used for conducting the experiments. A
of high plasticity. sand layer, 40 mm thick, was laid at the bottom of the test tank
and levelled with a rammer. A casing pipe of diameter equal to
2.1.2 Granular pile material that of the GPAs was pushed vertically into the bottom sand layer
The granular material used for the installation of granular piles exactly at the centre of the tank. A mild steel rod of 8 mm
was a mixture of 20% metal chips with particle size ranging from diameter, with a mild steel circular plate of diameter equal to
6 to 10 mm and 80% coarse sand with particle size ranging from that of the GPAs fastened to it, was inserted vertically into the
2.4 to 4.8 mm. It was observed from pilot studies that, at this casing pipe so that the plate would be on the top of the bottom
proportion of 20:80, the granular material could be compacted sand layer.
over a wide range of relative density values. All the test GPAs
were prepared at a relative density (Dr ) of 60%. The clay bed was compacted in five layers, each of 40 mm
thickness. The weight of the expansive soil required to be
2.2 Test variables compacted in the tank was, therefore, divided into five equal
Water content (w%) and dry unit weight (ªd ) of the expansive parts, each part having to be compacted to the required height of
clay beds were kept constant at 10% and 13 kN/m3 , respectively. 40 mm, ensuring that the desired unit weight was attained.
The diameter and the length of all the GPAs were respectively 40 Expansive soil was carefully poured into the tank such that it did

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 Ground Improvement Reducing heave of expansive clay beds
Volume 167 Issue GI2 through granular pile–anchor groups
Phanikumar and Muthukumar

not enter the casing pipe, and compacted with a rammer. The
height of each compacted layer was checked.
Similarly, in the case of the single GPA (n ¼ 1), the weight of the
granular pile material required for the particular relative density
was also divided into five equal parts, each part having to be
compacted with a rod to the required height of 40 mm, ensuring
uniform relative density. The pipe was slowly withdrawn as the
process of compaction progressed. Two more casing pipes were
introduced, one at a depth (z) of 120 mm from the top after
compacting the second layer and the other one at a depth (z) of
40 mm from the top after compacting the fourth layer. Heave
stakes were introduced into these casing pipes to monitor heave
at the above depths (see Figure 3(a) and (b)).
The process of compacting the clay bed and the pile was
Heave stake – I
(z ⫽ 40 mm)
Foundation plate
(z ⫽ 0 mm)
Dial gauge
Heave stake – II
(z ⫽ 120 mm)
200 mm
continued until the clay bed and the GPA were compacted to the
respective unit weights desired and reached the same height at
the end of compaction. When the compaction was over, the
casing pipe used for installing the GPA alone was withdrawn
completely. The casing pipes used for the heave stakes were
retained in the clay bed. The surface footing was fastened to the
top end of the anchor rod and a dial gauge attached to it (n ¼ 1).
Similarly, dial gauges were also fitted to the heave stakes.
A similar compaction procedure was adopted in the cases of twin
GPAs (n ¼ 2) and an equilateral triangular pattern of GPAs
(n ¼ 3). Figure 3 illustrates the experimental set-up for expansive
clay beds reinforced with n ¼ 1, 2 and 3. A dial gauge with its
spindle resting on the foundation plate was fixed to the tank with
the help of a magnetic base and two more dial gauges were fixed
on heave stakes to measure heave at different depths (z ¼ 0, 40
and 120 mm).
After setting the dial gauge readings to zero, 10 litres of water
were added continuously from the top at a constant flow rate of 2
litres/day so that the clay beds were completely inundated. It was
calculated that 10 litres of water would be required for saturating
the clay beds. Heave at different depths (z) was monitored until
equilibrium heave was attained. Furthermore, surface heave at

different radial distances (r) from the centre of the test tank was
GPA also monitored.
Bottom sand layer
(40 mm thick)
3. Discussion of test results
(a)
Heave stake – I 3.1 Variation of heave at different depths
(z ⫽ 40 mm) Figure 4 shows the rate of heave wherein heave (mm) was plotted
Foundation plate on Y-axis corresponding to log time (min) plotted on the X-axis.
(z ⫽ 0 mm)
The data shown in the figure pertain to the unreinforced
Dial gauge
expansive clay bed (n ¼ 0). The data shown are those for z ¼ 0,
Heave stake – II 40 and 120 mm from the top of the clay bed. Heave increased
(z ⫽ 120 mm)
200 mm

with time for all the layers and attained an equilibrium value in
15 days (21 600 min) when the clay bed was unreinforced.
Twin GPAs (n ⫽ 2) Furthermore, the heave recorded was the highest at a given time
Bottom sand layer at the top of the clay bed (z ¼ 0 mm). Heave decreased as the
(40 mm thick) depth (z) of the layer from the top of the clay bed increased. This
(b)

60 n ⫽ 0; z ⫽ 0 mm
n ⫽ 0; z ⫽ 40 mm
50
n ⫽ 0; z ⫽ 120 mm
Equilateral triangular 40
Heave: mm

pattern of GPAs
30

20
Foundation plate
10
(c)
0
1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000
Figure 3. (a) Experimental set-up for single GPA (n ¼ 1); Time: min (log scale)
(b) experimental set-up for twin GPAs (n ¼ 2); (c) plan showing
equilateral triangular pattern of GPAs (n ¼ 3) Figure 4. Rate of heave

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 Ground Improvement Reducing heave of expansive clay beds
Volume 167 Issue GI2 through granular pile–anchor groups
Phanikumar and Muthukumar

30
can be attributed to the effect of overburden or surcharge on the
n ⫽ 2; z ⫽ 0 mm
layer which increased with z and was therefore instrumental in 25 n ⫽ 2; z ⫽ 40 mm
reducing the heave of that layer. For example, the heave for n ⫽ 2; z ⫽ 120 mm
z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm was equal to 56.5, 35.5 and 21.8 mm, 20

Heave: mm
respectively. 15

Figure 5 shows the rate of heave of an expansive clay bed 10

reinforced with a single GPA (n ¼ 1). In this case also a similar
5
pattern of rate of heave was observed as in the case of n ¼ 0.
However, equilibrium heave in the case of n ¼ 1 decreased 0
significantly for z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm. The reduction in heave 1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000
can be attributed to the anchoring effect of the GPA. As a result Time: min (log scale)
of the anchoring effect of GPA, resistance to uplift is mobilised
Figure 6. Rate of heave
in the downward direction. Hence, the heave observed at different
z decreased significantly. Heave for n ¼ 1 was equal to 48, 26
and 21 mm, respectively, at z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm. If the number
30
of GPAs is increased in an expansive clay bed, heave further
decreases because of increased frictional resistance due to the 25 n ⫽ 3; z ⫽ 0 mm
greater number of GPAs. Furthermore, the time required by the n ⫽ 3; z ⫽ 40 mm
20 n ⫽ 3; z ⫽ 120 mm
clay bed to attain equilibrium heave also decreases as the number
Heave: mm

of GPAs increases.
15

Figures 6 and 7 respectively show the rate of heave of the 10

expansive clay bed reinforced by twin granular pile anchors
(n ¼ 2) and an equilateral triangular pattern of GPAs (n ¼ 3). The 5
data pertain to clay layers at depths z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm. The
0
pattern of heave variation in the case of n ¼ 2 and 3 was similar. 1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000
There was a steep increase in primary heave indicating that heave Time: min (log scale)
occurred in a short duration. A similar steep increase was not
observed in Figures 4 and 5. This indicates that the clay bed Figure 7. Rate of heave
showed a significant heave response to the increased number of
GPAs. The time periods required for equilibrium heave for all the
16
Time for saturation: days

layers (z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm) were 12, 9 and 8 days, respectively

15
for n ¼ 1, 2 and 3. Figure 8 shows the variation of time (in days) 14
required for saturation of the clay beds with the number of GPAs. 13
12
11
10
60 9
8
7
50 6
0 1 2 3 4
z ⫽ 0 mm Number of GPAs (n)
40 z ⫽ 40 mm
z ⫽ 120 mm Figure 8. Effect of GPAs on time for saturation
Heave: mm

30

This shows that, when the number of GPAs increased, the

20
expansive clay bed adjusted itself to moisture changes in a shorter
time. This can be attributed both to reduced heave due to higher
10 number of GPAs and to quicker distribution of moisture within the
clay bed due to higher permeability of GPAs. A comparison of
0 Figures 6 and 7 with Figure 5 reveals that heave decreased
1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000
Time: min (log scale)
significantly when n was increased from n ¼ 1 to 2 and 3. For
example, heave was respectively equal to 28.5, 21.5 and 18.5 mm
Figure 5. Rate of heave for z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm when n ¼ 2 (see Figure 6) and 24, 21
and 14.5 mm for z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm when n ¼ 3 (see Figure 7).

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 Ground Improvement Reducing heave of expansive clay beds
Volume 167 Issue GI2 through granular pile–anchor groups
Phanikumar and Muthukumar

3.2 Influence of number of GPAs on heave Furthermore, as the GPAs in the group anchor the same founda-
Figures 9, 10 and 11, respectively, show the patterns of rate of tion plate through anchor rods and anchor plates, increased
heave for different layers of clay bed (z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm). frictional resistance (nPR ) would be mobilised along the pile–soil
The data indicate the influence of number of GPAs on heave. As interfaces of the GPAs in the group, counteracting the uplift force
n increased, heave decreased significantly for all z. When the (Pu ) and resulting in a reduced amount of heave.
number of GPAs in the clay bed is increased, a greater volume of
expansive soil would be replaced by non-expansive granular For the different cases of n ¼ 1, 2 and 3, the values of uplift force
material of the GPA, leading to a lesser amount of heave. (Pu ), and resisting force (PR ) in newtons and the corresponding
FS were calculated using Equations 1, 2 and 3, respectively. For
the expansive clay used in this test programme, the swell
z ⫽ 0 mm n ⫽ 0
60 z ⫽ 0 mm n ⫽ 1 potential and swelling pressure were 6% and 80 kPa when the
z ⫽ 0 mm n ⫽ 2 clay was compacted at a dry unit weight of 13 kN/m3 and water
50 z ⫽ 0 mm n ⫽ 3
content of 10%. Hence the uplift force (Pu ) was calculated by
40
Heave: mm

substituting ps ¼ 80 kPa in Equation 1. The resisting force (PR )

30 was calculated using Equation 2, which involves c9 and j9, which
were determined by conducting shear box tests compacting
20
expansive clay in one half of the box at a water content
10 corresponding to a degree of saturation (Sr ) of 100%, and
granular material in the other half of the box at a relative density
0
1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000 (Dr ) of 60%, at which the GPAs were prepared. Parameters c9 and
Time: min (log scale) j9 were determined to be 12 kPa and 188, respectively.

Figure 9. Rate of heave In computing PR (Equation 2), the weight of the GPA (Wgpa ) and
the overburden pressure (9vo ) were ignored because the thickness
of the clay bed and the length of the GPA were negligible at
40 0.20 m. Swelling pressure was assumed to be isotropic and so the
z ⫽ 40 mm n ⫽ 0
35 z ⫽ 40 mm n ⫽ 1 value of lateral swell pressure coefficient (Ks ) was taken as 1.0.
z ⫽ 40 mm n ⫽ 2 Swelling pressure (ps ) was 80 kPa as mentioned above. FS were
30 z ⫽ 40 mm n ⫽ 3
calculated as the ratio of PR /Pu according to Equation 3. Table 2
Heave: mm

25
shows the values of Pu , PR and FS. It can be seen that, as the
20 number of GPAs increased, Pu decreased, PR increased and FS
15 increased. Table 3 shows the water contents (w%) and degrees of
10 saturation (Sr ) at z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm for n ¼ 0, 1, 2 and 3.
5
0
1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000 Number of GPAs (n) Pu : N PR : N FS
Time: min (log scale)
1 1931 955 0.50
Figure 10. Rate of heave 2 1831 1910 1.04
3 1730 2865 1.66

Table 2. Values of Pu , PR and FS for different cases

25
z ⫽ 120 mm n ⫽ 0
z ⫽ 120 mm n ⫽ 1
20
z ⫽ 120 mm n ⫽ 2
z ⫽ 120 mm n ⫽ 3
Heave: mm

15 No. of z ¼ 0 mm z ¼ 40 mm z ¼ 120 mm
GPAs (n)
10
w: % Sr : % w: % Sr : % w: % Sr : %
5
0 60 100 50.0 99.0 49.0 95.2
0 1 56 100 46.0 98.0 48.0 94.4
1 10 100 1000 10 000 100 000 2 52 100 44.6 98.3 45.7 94.8
Time: min (log scale) 3 50 100 44.5 98.0 44.5 94.0

Figure 11. Rate of heave Table 3. Water contents and degrees of saturation

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 Ground Improvement Reducing heave of expansive clay beds
Volume 167 Issue GI2 through granular pile–anchor groups
Phanikumar and Muthukumar

60
Hence Figures 9, 10 and 11 show that as n was increased, heave
decreased significantly and that variation of heave with time for 50 n⫽0 n⫽1
z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm indicated improved heave response. For n⫽2 n⫽3
40

Heave: mm
example, heave was respectively equal to 56.5, 48, 25 and 24 mm
when n ¼ 0, 1, 2 and 3 at z ¼ 0 mm. A similar pattern can be 30
observed in Figures 10 and 11 for z ¼ 40 and 120 mm also. An
increase in z meant an increase in overburden pressure or 20
surcharge resulting in a lesser amount of heave for all n. For 10
example, when n ¼ 2, heave was equal to 28.5, 21.5 and 18.5 mm
for z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm, respectively. 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Depth: (z): mm
Figure 12 shows the effect of number of GPAs on heave. The
data pertain to layers at z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm. Heave decreased Figure 13. Variation of total heave (mm) with depth z (mm)
with increase in number of GPAs for all z. Reduction in heave
was the most prominent for z ¼ 0 mm because this layer, which
was the ground level or top surface of the clay bed, heaved to
the greatest extent. For layers at z ¼ 40 and 120 mm, heave for n ¼ 2 and 3. Hence for n ¼ 2 and 3, heave reduction was
reduction with increasing n was not as prominent as for the layer moderate.
at z ¼ 0, because the original heave (when n ¼ 0) for these
layers was less in comparison with that for z ¼ 0 mm. Table 4 3.3 Ground heave or surface heave
summarises the values of heave at z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm for Ground heave or surface heave was measured at different radial
n ¼ 0, 1, 2 and 3. Figure 13 shows the variation of heave with z distances from the centre of the tank. This was the heave
for different n. Heave decreased with z for all n. An increase in corresponding to that of the top surface of the clay beds.
surcharge with increasing z prevents heave. For n ¼ 0 and 1, the Figure 14 shows the variation of ground heave with radial
reduction in heave was more significant because the amount of distance (r) from the centre of the tank. The data shown in the
heave for these two cases was higher (see Figures 1 and 2) than figure pertain to unreinforced clay beds (n ¼ 0) and clay beds
reinforced with varying number of GPAs (n ¼ 1, 2 and 3). In
the case of the unreinforced clay bed, the magnitude of ground
z ⫽ 0 mm heave was 57 mm, which was found to be uniform at all radial
60
z ⫽ 40 mm distances. In other words, the top surface of the unreinforced
50 z ⫽ 120 mm clay bed at the end of wetting was nearly horizontal. This is
40 quite understandable in the case of a uniformly compacted
Heave: mm

expansive clay bed under uniform wetting. In the case of GPA-

30 reinforced clay beds, however, ground heave increased with
20 increase in the radial distance (r) from the centre of the GPA.
Ground heave was a minimum at the centre of the GPA, but it
10
increased with increasing r. As r increased, the influence of
0 GPA decreased. Hence, ground heave measured at the edge of
0 1 2 3 4
the tank was the maximum (see Figure 14). For example,
Number of GPAs (n)

Figure 12. Effect of number of GPAs (n) on total heave (mm)

80 n⫽0 n⫽1
n⫽2 n⫽3
70

60
Heave: mm

Number of Depth of clay layer, z: mm

GPAs (n) 50
z ¼ 0 mm z ¼ 40 mm z ¼ 120 mm 40

0 56.5 35.5 21.8 30

1 48.0 26.0 21.0
20
2 25.0 21.5 18.5 0 20 40
3 24.0 21.0 14.5 Radial distance: mm

Table 4. Heave values in millimetres Figure 14. Surface heave profiles

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 Ground Improvement
Volume 167 Issue GI2
ground heave was 48, 51 and 55 mm at r ¼ 0, 100 and
200 mm, respectively, for n ¼ 1. Similarly, ground heave was
24, 27 and 31.75 mm for r ¼ 0, 100 and 200 mm, respectively,
for n ¼ 3.
3.4 Field practice of group GPAs
As GPA has been found to be effective in reducing heave of
foundations placed on expansive clay beds, it would be a viable
foundation technique in actual practice in the case of buildings
on expansive soils. In field practice of GPA, a bore hole is made,
into which the unit of anchor rod and anchor plate would be
introduced, the bore hole filled with crushed stone material and
the anchor rod taken monolithically into the foundation bed.
GPAs are also to be laid in groups in a field just as concrete piles
are. Therefore, twin GPAs (n ¼ 2) or equilateral triangular pattern
of GPAs (n ¼ 3), which are group GPAs, can all be monolithi-
cally connected to the same foundation concrete bed through
anchor rods.
4. Conclusions
GPAs have been found to be quite effective in controlling
heave of expansive clay beds based on the results obtained
from laboratory and field-scale tests. As the GPA foundation
system is effective in arresting heave, a series of laboratory-
scale experiments was conducted on remoulded expansive clay
beds reinforced by groups of GPAs also. Heave was mon-
itored at different depths of the clay beds. Surface heave or
ground heave was also monitored at different radial distances
(r) from the centre of the test tank. The following are the
chief conclusions that can be drawn from the experimental
study.
(a) Heave increased with time for all the layers at different
depths (z). Heave recorded at the top of the clay bed
(z ¼ 0 mm) was the highest in all the cases, but heave at a
given time decreased with increasing z as surcharge increased
with z. This was also found to be true for clay beds having
varying number of GPAs.
(b) Heave decreased significantly when the expansive clay beds
were reinforced with GPAs. This was mainly due to the
anchor effect produced by the GPAs. Furthermore, the time
required for equilibrium heave also decreased in the case of
GPA-reinforced expansive clay beds.
(c) Heave at z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm was respectively equal to
56.5, 35.5 and 21.8 mm in the case of an unreinforced clay
bed (n ¼ 0). In the case of the clay bed reinforced with a
single GPA (n ¼ 1), the equilibrium heave was equal to 48,
26 and 21 mm, respectively, at z ¼ 0, 40 and 120 mm,
indicating reduction in heave.
(d ) Heave of the expansive clay beds reinforced by twin GPAs
(n ¼ 2) and equilateral triangular pattern GPAs (n ¼ 3)
decreased further. For example, heave at z ¼ 0 mm was 48,
28.5 and 24 mm, respectively, for n ¼ 1, 2 and 3. Similar data
were obtained for other depths (z) also, showing that heave at
all z decreased when the number of GPAs increased.
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Reducing heave of expansive clay beds
through granular pile–anchor groups
Phanikumar and Muthukumar
(e) As the number of GPAs increased, the uplift force (Pu ) on
the foundation decreased, the resisting force (PR ) increased
and the factor of safety (FS) of GPA against uplift
increased.
( f ) Surface heave or ground heave was found to be uniform at all
radial distances (r) from the centre of the tank in the case of
unreinforced clay bed (n ¼ 0), resulting in a horizontal
surface. However, in the case of GPA-reinforced clay beds,
heave increased with increasing radial distance (r) from the
centre of the GPA. Heave was found to be the least at the
centre of the GPA (r ¼ 0) and increased with radial distance
(r . 0).
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