Zanco Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.27, No.

1, 2015

Control of Cracks due to Drying Shrinkage of an Expansive Soil Using

Different Drying Mechanisms and Filler Additive
pp.(31-40)

Dr. Yousif Ismael Maulood

Department of Civil, College of Engineering, Salahaddin University – Erbil, Iraq.
yousifism68@eng-usalah.org

Received: 01/12/2014
Accepted: 12/02/2015

Abstract
Shrinkage laboratory tests and field trials were conducted to evaluate the behavior of Koritan’s
expansive soil against the effects of various amounts (0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, and 15.0%) of limestone powder as
filler. Natural and artificial drying methods were used to eliminate the developing of desiccation cracks during
air-drying stage. The results indicated that the presence of filler materials in the soil mixtures reduces apparent
and micro cracks on the surface of adobe bricks. It was found that filler content improved shrinkage
characteristics while drying under the sack on the ground with prime coating (asphalt emulsions coating) was
optimum.
Keywords: Control of cracks, expansive soil, drying shrinkage, clay, filler additive.

1. Introduction

T he swelling behavior of expansive soils often causes problems like differential

settlement and ground heaving. Recently, expansive soils are attracting attention; the
soil is often designed, as soil mixtures that require low shrinkage and swelling
properties, low hydraulic conductivity, and high strength (Wankhade et al., 2014; Agus,
2003). Characteristic expansive or swelling materials are highly plastic clays and clay shale
that often contain colloidal clay minerals such as the montmorillonites. The differential
movement caused by swell or shrinkage of expansive soils can increase the probability of
damage to foundation and superstructure (Technical Manual, 2004). Cracking is a complex
phenomenon in materials like soils; it is a natural process that involves weathering and
chemical changes. Desiccation cracking is the product of volumetric shrinking of clays
brought about by a reduction in soil-water content. Cracking initiates when tensile stresses
generated by increasing suctions exceed the soil strength, which in itself, is controlled by soil
water content (Stirling et al., 2013). Desiccation cracking significantly affects soil
performance as cracks create a zone of weakness in a soil mass and reduce its overall strength
and stability (Alvis and Marcelo, 2011). The hydraulic conductivity behaviors and strength
performance of naturally drying samples at room temperature and the one artificially drying at
100∘C were tested and results showed that these drying methods play fundamental role in
modification, and engineering application of expansive soil (Jian et al., 2014). To find the
effect of creating nanocomposite materials on the long-term durability behaviors of the
expansive clay, tests were carried out at different polymer contents and curing time. After
long term curing time 28 days, the use of 15% polymer content reduced the swell percent by
90% and increased the stiffness by 4.5 time of its initial value (Azzam, 2014). Factors that
influence the shrinkage and cracking features of soils are clay minerals, clay content,
compaction conditions, drying processes, wetting and drying cycles, soil particle orientation,
unit weight, pore fluid, and exchangeable ions (Omer and Mohd, 2011). The formation of
desiccation cracks on soil surface due to loss of water is a common natural phenomenon, and
can significantly affect the soil performance in various geotechnical, agricultural and
environmental applications (Chao-Sheng et al., 2011). There are two main types of fractures
that occur during drying: the first type propagates perpendicular to the clay surface causing
the soil to fracture into polygonal sections the second type of fracture is the formation of ‘mud
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curls’ or mud peeling. In this case, a peeling crack propagates parallel to the surface of the
clay (Robert et al., 2010). If the percentage of clay is higher than 5% by weight, soils with
smectite clay minerals, such as montmorillonite, exhibit the most profound swelling
properties. Potentially expansive soils can typically be recognized in the laboratory by their
consistency indices. Inorganic clays of high plasticity, generally those with liquid limits
exceeding 50% and plasticity index over 30, usually have high inherent swelling capacity
(Mesfin, 2005). An expansive soil usually develops vertical cracks in the topsoil, i.e., lateral
swelling is possible, but due to lateral restrictions, the subsoil in the field can expand upon
wetting only upwardly against the pressure arising from the overlaying soil mass (Chuanqin et
al., 2011).
Drying of clay products is necessary to remove water from the solid clay body, after
the drying process the products should be of such quality that they can withstand
transportation to the kiln for firing, setting in the kiln, and pre-heating for the firing process.
Green clay products can be dried naturally or artificially. The drying process must be planned
in such a way that only minimum losses of bricks and tiles occur through cracking and
deformation (Technical Brief Building Advisory Service and Information Network, 2000).
Expansive soils cause billions of dollars of damage to homes and properties in China each
year. Damage can be avoided or mitigated if the propensity of a soil to shrink and swell is
known before construction. Predicting shrink-swell potential accurately requires both the
knowledge of which soil properties influence shrinking and swelling, and the magnitude of
these parameters (Huawang, 2009).
This study has been conducted on Koritan soil that is used for the manufacturing of
bricks in Erbil, Iraq. Highly dense desiccation cracks are observed in these mechanically
made green bricks (freshly molded bricks) especially during the hottest months in the
summer, July and August (when temperatures may reach 52oC). It is understood that
shrinkage is caused during soil drying and that a crack initiates when the tensile stresses
exceed the soil strength. The tensile strength is dependent on the moisture content of the soil
and the associated suction. The effect of the varying amounts of filler material, like limestone
powder, during the manufacture of bricks has not been studied previously. With the aim of
obtaining air-dried bricks without surface cracks, this paper shows the influence of filler
content in the cracking behavior of bricks manufactured with Koritan’s soil (by the Bradost
Company). Cracking was tested using a number of drying methods and painting the freshly
molded bricks with black Kerosene as a prime coating to shield the products from direct sun
radiation, wind and other environmental conditions, and also to allow for an even drying.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Soil
The soil used was obtained from the Koritan village, 14 km South of Erbil City at the
right side of Erbil-Makhmoor main road. It is a grayish-light brown inorganic lean silty clay
soil of medium plasticity, which has been used by the Bradost brick factory and all of the
factories in that area. This soil is from one of the most abundant clay deposits in Iraq. The
index properties for the soil, linear shrinkage, swelling properties, and the particle size
distribution were determined and shown in Table 1 and Figure 1. Chemical properties and
mineralogical composition of the soil were obtained, Table 2.
2.2.Filler Additive
Limestone powder was used as the filler additive to Koritan soil in the study. Passing
#30 U.S. sieved (0.6 mm diameter) of filler was used, its particle size distribution was
determined, Figure 1. It is a cheap and easily available material in Erbil City. Filler was added
to clays to improve the shrinkage and to decrease plasticity index (PI) of the soil. The effect of
filler additive on plasticity behavior of the filler–soil mixture was tested and shown in Table 3.
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This shows that the liquid limit (LL) decreases slightly with increasing filler content up to
12.5% after that LL remained constant, while the plastic limit (PL) is approximately constant,
meanwhile the plasticity index decreased with increasing filler content.

2.3.Drying Process
The drying of green bricks and tiles is a process in which the water needed for proper
molding is eliminated from the clay products; consequently, they shrink as shown in Figure 2.
Stresses built up within the green product were also influenced by the physical and chemical
properties of the clay, its degree of plasticity and texture when using an extruder for molding
(Technical Brief Building Advisory Service and Information Network, 2000). The drying area
is an open yard exposed to wind and sunlight, which are natural drying agents (Constance,
2003), and it should be sprinkled with dry sand or straw to prevent the wet blocks from
binding to the surface. The wet adobe bricks are left to dry for a minimum of 3 days before
handling, however they should be strong enough to be turned over after one or two days so
that drying can continue. Bricks will not be strong enough for rough manipulation for one or
two weeks depending on weather conditions.
2.4. Laboratory Shrinkage tests
Laboratory linear, diameter and thickness shrinkage tests on filler–soil mixture 0, 7.5, 10,
12.5 and 15% by weight were performed and shown in Figures 2 and 3. In general filler
additive decreases soil shrinkage due to the mixing of non-plastic filler materials with medium
plasticity soil in this case Koritan soil, which decreases the plasticity index of the mixture and
may neutralize the existing charges on the clay particles, consequently decreases shrinkage
cracks on molded bricks.

3. Field experimental work

The soil used in this investigation was obtained from the soil quarry of brick factories
in Erbil City. The soil was pulverized then mixed with 0, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15% by weight of
limestone powder as filler. Water was then added (28%) to the mixture to ensure proper
molding. This amount was determined after a number of tests for the optimum water content
in this type of soil for the molding process in which the mixture is forced by an auger into a
horizontal cone-shaped tube that tapers down to the die. The extruded clay column is then cut
into eight brick-sized pieces (have dimensions of 240 x 115 x 75 mm) Plate 1, by an
arrangement of wires and immediately transported to drying locations as soon as possible
painted with black asphalt emulsions.

4. Drying of bricks
Bricks must be dried properly; the moisture content has to be reduced to less than 8%.
In the Kurdistan region of Iraq, there is an adequate amount of sun radiation for the drying
operation. However, shrinkage crack problems occur when this free source of energy is used
and bricks are placed on open air during the summer months. Table 4 shows the different
drying methods used, and compare them with drying method followed by the Bradost brick
factory.

5. Results and discussions

There were 33 filler–soil mixtures in Table 4 (1 group without filler content, 31 filler–
soil mixtures with prime coating and 32 mixtures without prime coating, i.e. 64 mixes), for
each mixture, 32 prototype bricks were made and giving a total number of 2048 bricks. After
air-drying process of adobe bricks, widths and lengths of apparent and micro cracks on the
surface of dried bricks were checked by visual inspection. For each filler-soil mixture
recorded the number of bricks that cracks appeared on their surface during air-drying
shrinkage stage. Air-dried adobe bricks with deep and/or long cracks were considered as a
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loss (unsuitable for burning in kiln), thereafter determined the percent loss of bricks during
that stage. Adobe bricks with different percentages of filler content were dried using the
methods shown in Table 4 with and without a prime coat. In summer in Erbil, temperature
ranges from 35 to 52oC. By placing the bricks in open air during air-drying shrinkage stage,
shrinkage cracks occur creating a problem for brick companies. Results of the percent loss of
bricks were recorded for each filler additive content with and without prime coating, Table 4.
All soil bricks without filler additive (from the Bradost brick factory) cracked during air-
drying. In general, soil bricks with prime coating showed lower losses than bricks without a
prime coat, while drying under the sack and on the ground surface with prime coating shown
to be the best method. On the other hand, methods number 4 and 29 in Table 4, with 12.5 and
15% filler content respectively produced acceptable brick when also using the prime coat.
Hairline cracks showed seldom-surface cracking in these cases. The improvement was
obtained by keeping green products from direct sun radiation; wind and other drafty
conditions to avoid unbalanced drying.

6. Conclusions
The following conclusions are limited to the materials and test conditions used in this
investigation.
1. Limestone powder can successfully be added as a filler additive to Erbil’s soil to reduce
shrinkage cracks in the manufacture of brick, hence it is suggested that the use of filler
additive restricted up to certain extent.
2. Slow drying is a cautious way to avoid drying shrinkage damage; also, the addition of
limestone, as a filler additive to soil, decreases its plasticity index and consequently
decreases shrinkage cracks.
3. The improvement in the drying of bricks with prime coating and under the sack and on the
ground was excellent.

7. Acknowledgments
The author extends his appreciation to Bradost Company of technical bricks in Erbil
City for supporting this work. The author is grateful to Assist Prof. Dr. Shukor K., Dr. Khalel
W., Dr. Dilovan Ghafoory and Mr. Khasru, and the reviewers for their comments and
suggestions for improvement of the manuscript.

8. References
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Teknik Sipil, 5 (2), 93 – 98.
Alvis, A. and Marcelo, S., (2011) ‘Analysis of Cracking Behavior of Drying Soil. 2nd International Conference
on Environmental Science and Technology’, IPCBEE, 6, 66-69, IACSIT Press, Singapore.
ASTM standards, (2011) ‘Special procedure for testing soil and rock for engineering purpose’, 4.08, 04.06,
U.S.A.
Azzam, W. R., (2014) ‘Durability of Expansive Soil Using Advanced Nanocomposite Stabilization’, Int. J. of
GEOMATE, 7(1), Sl. No. 13, 927-937, Geotech., Const. Mat. & Env., ISSN:2186-2982(P), 2186-2990(O),
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Chao-Sheng, T., Yu-Jun, C., Bin, S., Anh-Minh, T., and Chun, L., (2011) ‘Desiccation and Cracking Behavior of
Clay Layer from Slurry State Under Wetting-Drying Cycles’, 111-118,.Geoderma.
Chuanqin, H., Mingan, S. and Wenfeng, T., (2011) ‘Soil Shrinkage and Hydrostructural Characteristics of Three
Swelling Soils in Shaanxi’, China. J Soils Sediments 474–481, Springer-Verlag, Published online.
Constance, K., (2003) ‘ABCs of Making Adobe Bricks’, New Mexico State University is an equal
opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
cooperating. U.S.A.
Huawang, S., (2009) ‘Application of Unascertained Measure to Classification of Expansive Soils’, International
Colloquium on Computing, Communication, Control, and Management, ISECS, 57-60, China.

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Jian L., Xiyong W., and Long H., (2014) ‘Physical, Mineralogical, and Micromorphological Properities of
Expansive Soil Treated at Different Temperature’, Hindawi Publishing Corporation, Journal of
Nanomaterials, Article ID 848740, 1-7.
Mesfin, K., (2005) ‘Relationship between Consolidation and Swelling Characteristics of Expansive Soils of
Addis Ababa’, M.Sc. thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.
Omer, M. E. T. and Mohd, R. T., (2011) ‘Cracks in Soils Related to Desiccation and Treatment. Australian
Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 1080-1089, Malaysia.
Robert, W. S., Stephen, S. L. P. and Alan, C. F. C., (2010) ‘Mud Peeling and Horizontal Crack Formation in
Drying Clays’, Oxford Centre for Collaborative Applied Mathematics, Oxford OX1 3LB, England.
Stirling R.A., Davie C.T., Glendinning S., (2013) ‘Numerical modelling of desiccation crack induced
permeability’ 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 813-816,
Paris.
Technical Brief Building Advisory Service and Information Network, (2000) ‘Drying of clay bricks and tiles’,
basin/ GATE-GTZ, Germany.
Technical Manual, (2004) ‘Foundations in Expansive Soils", Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) UFC 3-220-07 16,
Washington, DC.
Wankhade, S. R., Rajurkar, V. J., and Dahale, P., (2014) ‘Improvement of Swelling-shrinkage Behaviour of
Expansive Soil Using EPS Beads’, International Journal of Applied Engineering Research. ISSN 0973-4562,
9(2), 223-228.

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List of Tables

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List of Figures

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