Distribution of Degree of Swelling, Organic Contents, and the

Relationship with the Clay

Properties in Godong-Purwodadi Road Central Java Indonesia

Kre
sno WS1, Indrastono Dwi A 1, Havid Suryo H2, Riandi H2

1
Lecturer Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia
2
Student Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia
Corresponding E-mail: kresnowikan@gmail.com

Abstract
Expansive soil is soil that has large swell and shrinkage behaviour and generally
has a small carrying capacity so that it has adversely effect in engineering
buildings, embankment and road. The Godong-Purwodadi road in Central Java is
very famous for frequent road damage. Based on the results of previous studies
show that the soil on the Godong-Purwodadi road is expansive soil [1, 2]. In this
paper, the study focused in the distribution of the expansive soil, the degree of
swelling, the organic content and the swelling pressure along the Godong-
Purwodadi road. The test results show liquid limit values between 80.81% -
89.99%, plasticity index between 50.59% - 60.42%, and free swell values between
100% - 130% so that they categorized as very high expansion potential. The swell
pressure value in the range of 140 kPa – 325 kPa. The test also reveals that there is
a relationship between clay properties and the degree of swelling. The organic
content value between 5.33% - 6.8%.

1. Introductions
Construction of new roads often faced with expansive soil. Poor soil defined as clay, which has large
swell and shrinkage and has a small bearing capacity. Soil with this condition is expansive soil.
Expansive soil (expansive soil) is a term used in soil or rock material that has the potential for
shrinkage or swell by the influence of changes in water content. This is because expansive soils
contain large negatively charged montmorillonite minerals, absorb large amounts of water by filling
pore cavities so that the soil expands and the subsequent result is its strength decreases dramatically
[3]. If the soil has potential for swell, then the soil also has the potential for shringkage by changes in
the water content causing losses on a construction above it. Losses experienced can be in the form of
material and non-material both domestically and abroad.
As has been done by previous studies that have made research on the existence of expansive
clay on the island of Java and the Godong-Purwodadi road section, namely, the effect of the concrete
pavement used to reduce the damage caused by the expansive soil of the Purwodadi- Blora road [4].
Expansive clay soil stabilization using electrokinetic and battery and lime stabilizers, Permadi et al,
2016. Effect of adding silica fume on the shear strength and swelling of expansive clay in Jababeka
Cikarang [5]. Expansive soil stabilization with the geosynthetics of the Godong-Purwodadi road
Correlation of CBR, PI with the shear strength value of the clay soil of the Purwodadi road, Godong
[2]. Potential expansive nature of the Godong-Purwodadi road segment [1]. Previous studies have
examined a lot about expansive soil stabilization. In this study, expansive soils examined carefully by
presenting the physical and mechanical properties of the soil and classifying the expansion of
expansive soils against road damage at the points being reviewed.

2. Method
Along the Godong-Purwodadi road, 10 sampling obtained with a depth ± 1m. The sampling
coordinate shown in Table 1. The samples taken at a distance of ± 1m from outside the road in km 49-
53 Godong-Purwodadi road. Standard soil testing to determine the wet weight, specific gravity, sieve
test, hydrometer and moisture contents and Atteberg limit (liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity
index) conduct. The pH slurry test done to get the soil acidity value by its pH value. Free swell testing
done to get the degree of swelling. Swelling testing performed to obtain the value of swell pressure.
Organic content tested by using lost ignition of furnace and ratio of LL oven dried and LL not dried.

Table 1. Sampling coordinate.

Coordinate Point
Sample
S E
km 49 7º02’04.558” 110º48’10.736”
km 50 7º02’16.828” 110º48’42.391”
km 51 7º02’27.714” 110º47’11.470”
km 52 7º02’38.422” 110º49’41.214”
km 53 7º02’50.979” 110º50’12.184”
km 54 7º03’04.409” 110º50’42.074”
km 55 7º03’09.812” 110º51’06.770”
km 56 7º03’20.367” 110º51’40.635”
km 57 7º03’40.174” 110º52’05.636”
km 58 7º04’00.000” 110º52’32.036”

Soil samples used in this study are disturbed soil samples. This soil sample dried in the sun's heat
until it reaches a water content of around 5-7%. Then the dried soil sample is grind until it passes
sieve No. 4. Analysis of physical and mechanical properties consists of moisture content, specific
gravity, weight content, Atterberg limit, free swell test, swelling test by oedometer, pH slurry test,
hydrometer and loss of ignition (LOI) from furnace.

Figure 1. The sample location along Godong-Purwodadi road. Godong at the left side and Purwodadi
at the right side
3. Results & Disscusion
The result of sieve test shown in Table 1. The result of the grain size and hydrometer test indicate that
the dominant soil has clay size. For grain size using ASTM standard, where gravel
4.75mm<diameter<75mm, sand 0.075mm <diameter<4.75mm, silt 0.005mm <diameter<0.075mm,
clay diameter<0.005mm.

Tabel 1. Grain size distribution

No Sampl Gravel Sand Silt Clay
. e % % % %
1 km 49 3.06 11.26 3.6 82.08
2 km 50 0.96 6.48 3.8 88.76
3 km 51 11.6 23.04 3 62.36
4 km 52 0.38 5.98 3.6 90.04
5 km 53 2.32 16.92 2.6 75.66
6 km 54 0.66 3.74 10 85.6
7 km 55 5.26 16.2 3.04 85.6
8 km 56 0.28 23.94 2.3 73.48
9 km 57 5.48 16.26 2.6 75.66
10 km 58 10.18 4.26 2.2 83.36

The result of Atterberg limit, plasticity index, natural water content and specific gravity
shown in Tabel 2. Atterberg limit, LL and PL shown in Tabel 2 and plotted in Figure 2, to find out
whether the nature of silt or clay is dominant. From Figure 2 it can be seen that all samples exhibit
properties as clay, because all samples lie above A-line and below U-line. All the samples in Figure 2
have more than 50% LL, so they categorized as high plasticity clays or CH. The result of natural
water content show in Table 2, have value from 32% to 40%. The value Gs around 2.6. From the
results of the water content and compared with PL and LL, it shows that the soil phase is in the plastic
phase, due to the water content between PL and LL. Tests to determine pH are also carried out and are
shown in Table 2. It appears that all samples indicate non-acid conditions.
Tabel 2. Atterberg limits, natural water content, pH and specific gravity

No Sample Liquid Plastic Plasticity Natural Gs pH

. Limit Limit Index water
LL PL PI content
%
1 km 49 86.2 25.78 60.42 32.95 2.6
8.37
3
270 km 50 84.3 32.21 53.08 48.45 2.6
8.27
1
360 km 51 86.22 29.03 57.18 58.96 2.6
8.03
1
450 km 52 88.5 31.09 57.40 40.81 2.6
8.40
0
Plasticty Index

540 km 53 86.41 29.66 56.74 55.56 2.6

8.23
4
630 km 54 86.2 25.78 60.42 32.95 2.6
8.13
2
20
7 km 55 84.3 32.21 53.08
U-line PI = 48.45 2.6
0.9(LL-8) 8.47
10 5
A-Line PI =
8 km 56 86.22 29.03 57.18
0.733(LL-20) 58.96 2.6
8.13
0 4
9 0 km1057 20 30
88.5 40 5031.09
60 70 8057.4090 100 40.81 2.6
8.27
Liquid Limit 8
10 km 58 86.41 29.66 56.74 55.56 2.6
7.93
2
 Gambar 2. Sample plot on Cassagrande chart

Atterberg limit used for initial estimation of expansion potential, especially PI parameters. It
appears in Table 2, that all samples showed PI more than 35%. The PI reference values shown in
Table 3 it appears that from the PI all samples have very high expansion potential. This high value of
expansion potential occurs in all samples.
Tabel 3. The value of expansion potential of PI [6]

Plasticity Index Expansion Potential

0-15 Low
10-35 Medium
20-55 High
>35 Very High

Testing to verify the degree of swell done with a free swell test. Free swell tests carried out because
this is the easiest way to determine soil swelling. The results of the free swell test shown in Table 4.

Tabel 4. Free swell index result

No. Sample Free swell index

(FSI)
1 km 49 110
2 km 50 100
3 km 51 100
4 km 52 130
5 km 53 110
6 km 54 100
7 km 55 125
8 km 56 140
9 km 57 100
10 km 58 125

The results in Table 4 show a high expansion potential, the reference values used shown in Table
5. From several parameters, for example LL, PI, Cassagrande chart and free swell index shows the
clay has a high swelling. A large level of swelling occurs in all samples so that this expansive soil
distribution is evenly distributed and has a large value at all sampling locations.

Tabel 5. The free swell index value of the free swell test against expansion potential [7]

Free Swell Index (FSI) Expansion Potential

<20 Low
20-35 Medium
35-50 High
>50 Very High

Testing to determine the organic contents done by loss of ignition. From the results of loss of
ignition shows a small organic content, less than 10%, which ranges from 5.3% to 6.8%. Organic
contents less than 10% occur in all samples.
Verification done by evaluating the ratio of LL oven dried to LL not dried; the results are all
samples are more than 0.75, showing non-organic. All samples showed a non-organic tendency.
From the tests described above, it shows that clay has a high level of swelling, but has a low
organic content. It concluded that clay minerals are responsible for high levels of swelling and not
related to organic content of clay.

Tabel 6. Organic content results from loss of ignition to organic content from LL-ovendried test

No. Sample Organic content ¿ oven dried result Remarks

LOI (%) ¿ not dried ¿ oven dried
¿ not dried
1 km 49 6.3 0.999 Not organic >0.75
2 km 50 5.67 0.979 Not organic >0.75
3 km 51 5.33 0.958 Not organic >0.75
4 km 52 6.53 1.034 Not organic >0.75
5 km 53 5.6 1.010 Not organic >0.75
6 km 54 5.53 0.962 Not organic >0.75
7 km 55 5.87 1.024 Not organic >0.75
8 km 56 6.80 1.013 Not organic >0.75
9 km 57 6.60 1.112 Not organic >0.75
10 km 58 6.40 1.003 Not organic >0.75
Evaluation of activities carried out on all samples, the results of the activity shown in Table 7. For the
inference mineral type from activity, it leads to mineral illite. The mineral tendency of activity shown
in Table 8. Swell testing performed with an Oedometer on some samples. The results shown in Table
9. Swell pressure is also performed to determine the pressure on the samples; the results are shown in
Table 9.

Tabel 7. Activity sample and estimated mineral type of activity

No. Sample Activity Mineral
1 49 0.706 Illite
2 50 0.593 Illite
3 51 0.933 Illite
4 52 0.582 Illite
5 53 0.692 Illite
6 54 0.563 Illite
7 55 0.706 Illite
8 56 0.688 Illite
9 57 0.540 Illite
10 58 0.606 Illite

Tabel 8. Estimated type of mineral from activity [8]

 Mineral Activity
Na-Montmorilonite 4-7
Ca-Montmorilonite 1.5
Illite 0.5-1.3
Kaolinite 0.3-0.5
Halloysite (dehydrated) 0.5
Halloysite (hydrated) 0.1
Attapulgite 0.5-1.2
Allophane 0.5-1.2
Mica (Muscovite) 0.2
Calcite 0.2
Quartz 0

Tabel 9. Swell potential and swell pressure results

Water content
(%) Swell Swell Pressure
Sample
Potential (%) (kPa)
Before after
km 51 28.94 33.75 6.12 300
km 52 29.78 34.56 3.71 150
km 56 28.25 32.51 2.69 120

4. Conclusion
From the test, it concluded that the Godong-Purwodadi road showed high expansive soil. High
expansive soil distribution evenly distributed in all samples tested, or along the road tested. The test
results show that the organic content is small. It concluded that the swelling that occurred due to the
influence of minerals, and not related to organic content. From the results of the activity shows
minerals in the form of illite.

5.References
[1] Suherman 2005 Potensi Sifat Ekspansif Tanah Kelempungan Jurnal Jalan Dan Jembatan.
[2] Purnomo 2011 Korelasi Antara CBR, phi dan Kuat Geser Tanah Lempung. Jurnal Teknik Sipil
Dan Perencanaan, 14(1), 81–90.
[3] Chen F H 1975 Foundations on Expansive Soils Soil Science Society of America Journal
https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1976.03615995004000030011x
[4] Surat 2011 Di atas tanah ekspansif, studi kasus : ruas jalan Purwodadi-Blora Analisis Struktur
Perkerasan Jalan di Atas Tanah Ekspansif.
[5] Pratama GA 2015 Pengaruh penambahan silica fume pada nilai kuat geser dan swelling tanah
lempung ekspansif di Lokasi Proyek Jababeka Cikarang. from
http://jurnal.upi.edu/kokoh/view/4247/pengaruh-penambahan-silica-fume-pada-nilai-kuat-
geser-dan-swelling-tanah-lempung-ekspansif.html
[6] Peck RB, WE Hanson and TH Thornburn 1974 Foundation Engineering New York John Wiley
and Sons
[7] Skempton AW 1953 The colloidal activity of clay Proceedings of the 3rd international
conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering Switzerland
[8] Bardet J P 1997 Experimental soil mechanics Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, New Jersey