DETAIL INVESTIGATION ON SWELLING PROPERTY OF EXPANSIVE

SOIL AND REMEDIAL MEASURE IN DUKEM

Abdulselam Usman Tufa

A Proposal Submitted to the department of Civil Engineering,

School of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Office of Graduate Studies

Adama Science and Technology University

Adama

April, 2019

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DETAIL INVESTIGATION ON SWELLING PROPERTY OF EXPANSIVE
SOIL AND REMEDIAL MEASURE IN DUKEM

Abdulselam Usman Tufa

Adviser: Argaw Asha (PhD)

A Proposal Submitted to the department of Civil Engineering,

School of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Office of Graduate Studies

Adama Science and Technology University

Adama
April, 2019

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This is to certify that the thesis proposal prepared by Abdulselam usman entitled “Detail
investigation on swelling property of expansive soil and remedial measure in dukem” has been
approved by the thesis advisory committee. Approval of the thesis proposal is granted upon the
signing of this form by all members of the thesis advisory committee.

____________________________ _____________ ___________

Name of student Signature Date

___________________________ _____________ ___________

Advisor /Supervisor/ Signature Date

_________________________ _____________ ___________

Co Advisor Signature Date

_________________________ _____________ ___________

Chairman department committee Signature Date

____________________________ ______________ __________

Department Head Signature Date

____________________________ _____________ _________

School Dean Signature Date

___________________________ _______________ _________

Postgraduate Dean Signature Date

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ABSTRACT
The expansive soil is also known as a black cotton soil or clayey soil. This has a unique swell-
shrink behavior with various amounts of moisture and expansive. Due to this characteristics
engineering properties and behavior of clayey soil or black cotton soil has been changed
drastically. Based on many research the changes in properties and behavior are due to reaction
with water that may reduce the strength and can damage the structure. Also the large amount of
black cotton soil is available around the Dukem which leads us to a major investment over
construction projects or a maintenance which gives an option to avoid the use of such land. So the
researcher will going to investigate the swelling property of expansive soil in Dukem and to
stabilize the soil with 30%-50% of burned clay. The research will take five month to finalize with
the budget of 24,450.00ETB.

Key word: expansive soil, swelling property, burned clay, Swelling pressures

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 Table of Contents

ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................................i
LIST OF FIGURES.........................................................................................................................................iii
LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................................................................iv
1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Background of the study.................................................................................................................1
1.2. Statement of the Problem..............................................................................................................1
1.3. Objective of the study.....................................................................................................................2
1.3.1. General objective..........................................................................................................................2
1.3.2. Specific objective.........................................................................................................................2
1.4. Research question..........................................................................................................................2
1.5. Scope and Significance of the study...............................................................................................3
2. LITERATURE REVIEW...............................................................................................................................4
2.1. Expansive Soils................................................................................................................................4
2.1.1. Swell-Shrink Behavior of Expansive Soils, Damage and Control................................................5
2.1.2. Analysis of Swelling & Shrinkage Properties of Expansive Soil..................................................5
2.2. Test to be conducted....................................................................................................................5
2.2.1. Grain size analysis........................................................................................................................6
2.2.2. Atterberg limit..............................................................................................................................6
2.2.3. Linear shrinkage...........................................................................................................................7
2.2.4. Free swell test...............................................................................................................................7
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................................9
3.1. Pre-field work.................................................................................................................................9
3.2. Field work.......................................................................................................................................9
3.3. Post field work................................................................................................................................9
4. WORK PLAN..........................................................................................................................................13
5. FINANCIAL BUDGET..............................................................................................................................14
Reference.................................................................................................................................................15

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 3. 1 General work proceduce..................................................................................................11

Fig. 3. 2 Specific work procedure..................................................................................................12

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 4. 1 Work schedule...............................................................................................................13

Table 5. 1 Cost breakdown.............................................................................................................14

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 1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study
Ethiopia is developing country, where population increase at higher rate, needs to allocate huge
amount of resources for construction works to meet the growing demand for shelter and other
related facilities such as road networks. This effort should be accompanied by strict and
professionally ethical quality assurance and supervision of construction. One of the important
activities is proper design of structure. The proper design of civil engineering structures like
foundation of buildings, retaining walls, high ways, etc. requires adequate knowledge of sub
surface conditions at the sites of the structures. Many failures to highway, buildings, and other
structures founded on soils are mainly due to the lack of proper investigation of substructure
engineering properties of soil condition (Arora, 2004). The success or failure of a foundation
depends essentially on the reliability of the various soil parameters obtained from the field
investigation and laboratory tests, as it is used as an input into the design of foundations for all
types of large and small building.

Geotechnical engineers all over the world face enormous problems, when the soils founding those
structures are expansive in nature. Depending upon the use of expansive soils as foundation
support or construction materials, their properties need careful studies to estimate their potential
for damages based on volume change with reference to the imposed structural loads (© August
2016 | IJIRT | Volume 3 Issue 3 | ISSN: 2349-6002)

Now the study aims detail investigation on swelling property of expansive soil and its remedial
action in dukem which is one of the fastest growing cities, with more emphasis on swelling and
shrinkage property of expansive soil. In addition it is expected to recommend technically and
economically feasible remedial measure to improve the behavior of the soil if it is not suitable for
construction works.

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Expansive soils pose problems to civil engineers in general and to geotechnical engineers in
particular (Chen 1988). They cause damage to structures founded in them because of their

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potential to react to changes in moisture regime. They undergo severe volume changes
corresponding to changes in moisture content. They swell or increase in their volume when they
imbibe water and shrink or reduce in their volume on evaporation of water (Chen 1988). Because
of their alternate swelling and shrinkage, they result in detrimental cracking of lightly loaded civil
engineering structures such as foundations, retaining walls, pavements, airports, sidewalks, canal
beds and linings (Chen 1988).

In Dukam area due to swelling property of soil different utilities exposed to failure especially light
structure. The problems with foundations on expansive soils include heaving, cracking and
breakup of pavements, building foundations and slabs on grade members, channel and reservoir
linings. Environmental conditions of a particular area in which expansive soils are located play an
important role in the behavior of such soils. The frequency of rainfall, rate of evaporation, along
with the depth or amount of expansive clay and the activity of the clay are parameters in the
eventual heave of expansive soils.

To assess the above problem and come up with geotechnical solution the researcher issued to study
the swelling and shrinkage property of expansive soil in the case of Dukam.

1.3. Objective of the study

1.3.1. General objective
The aim of this thesis to investigate swelling property of expansive soil, its effect, and remedial
measure in the case of Dukam

1.3.2. Specific objective

 To determine the properties of the dukem town soil like: Liquid Limit, plastic limit,
plasticity index, maximum diary density, optimum moisture content, shrinkage, free swell
index which related to swelling property.
 To identify the swelling property of expansive soil and its effect
 To recommend the geotechnical solution for the problem identified.

1.4. Research question

 Is the soil of dukem suitable for construction work or not?

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  What is the free swelling, Swelling pressures, liquid limit, plastic limit, shrinkage limit
values of soil in the Dukem?
 What are the effects of swelling pressure?
 What are the geotechnical solutions recommended to overcome the above probem?

1.5. Scope and Significance of the study

Eight soil samples from four pits will be collected. The scope of this study is limited to
investigating the swelling property of expansive soil. The depth of investigation in this research is
limited to the Maximum depth of three meters.

At the end of this research the swelling property of expansive soil on Dukam town will be clearly
know and appropriate measures could be made during design and construction of engineering
structures on them. The study will benefit consultants, contractors, the public sectors engaged in
construction activity in Dukam town.

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 2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Expansive Soils

The expansive soil is also known as a black cotton soil or clayey soil. This has a unique swell-
shrink behavior with various amounts of moisture and expansiveness. Due to this characteristics
engineering properties and behavior of clayey soil or black cotton soil has been changed
drastically. Based on many research we can conclude that the changes in properties and behavior
are due to reaction with water that may reduce the strength and can damage the structure. Also the
large amount of black cotton soil is available all around the world which leads us to a major
investment over construction projects or a maintenance which gives an option to avoid the use of
such land.
Black cotton soil occupies about 3% of the world land area (i.e., about 340 million hectares). They
are found mainly in Africa, in the Gezira cotton fields of the southern black cotton plains of Sudan,
South Africa, Ethiopia and Tanzania. In Asia they are found extensively in the Indian Decca
Plateau. They could also be found in Australia, West Indies and in vast areas of Russia. In India
which occupy about 20% of its surface area. (H.J.Tekawade, Taluka-Purandhar, 2012)

Expansive soils contain the clay mineral montmorillonite with claystones, sedimentary and
residual soils are absorbing great amount of water and expand.The expansive nature of the clay is
less near the ground surface where the profile is subjected to seasonal and environment changes.
Expansive soils also shrink when they dry out. Fissures in the soil can also develop. These fissures
help water to penetrate to deeper layers when water is present. The more water they absorb the
more their volume increases. This produces a cycle of shrinkage and swelling that causes the soil
to undergo great amount of volume changes. This movement in the soil results in structural
damages especially in lightweight structures such as sidewalks, driveways, basement floors,
pipelines and foundations. Masoumeh Mokhtari & Masoud Dehghani (2012)

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2.1.1. Swell-Shrink Behavior of Expansive Soils, Damage and Control

Masoumeh Mokhtari & Masoud Dehghani (2012)

This paper gives detail information about the identifying the black cotton soil, about its swell –
shrink behavior, factors affecting swelling and shrinkage , reasons of swell – shrink behavior and
the controlling measures. The author has listed three methods to resolve this problem of swelling
and shrinkage of clayey soil. They also described their conclusion that Control of the swell-shrink
behavior can be accomplished in several ways, for example by Replace existing expansive soil
with non-expansive soil, Maintain constant moisture content and Improve the expansive soils by
stabilization from which stabilization is a better option to choose as per economic and
improvisational consideration.

2.1.2. Analysis of Swelling & Shrinkage Properties of Expansive Soil

Sachin N. Bhavsar1, Ankit J. Patel2 (2014)

Based on many research we can conclude that the changes in properties and behavior are due to
reaction with water that may reduce the strength and can damage the structure. Also the large
amount of black cotton soil is available all around the world which leads us to a major investment
over construction projects or a maintenance which gives an option to avoid the use of such land.
This paper performed stabilization on expansive type of soil with marble dust which is a waste
material and also widely available in large quantity. To resolve the problem of swelling and
shrinkage we have replaced the soil by stabilizing agent of its 50% dry weight. For the analysis of
effect of stabilizer on soil the comparison has done of properties of 100% black cotton soil and the
combination of 50% clack cotton soil + 50% brick dust. The comparison includes total properties
consideration by carried out compaction test, atterber’s limit test, linear shrinkage test, and
swelling test on both normal & stabilized soil. From the above mentioned test. It has been
observed great decrement in swelling and shrinkage of soil.

2.2. Test to be conducted

All tests are conducted according code specifications

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2.2.1. Grain size analysis
Purpose:

This test is performed to determine the percentage of different grain sizes contained within a soil.
The mechanical or sieve analysis is performed to determine the distribution of the coarser, larger-
sized particles, and the hydrometer method is used to determine the distribution of the finer
particles. Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC (2012)

Significance:

The distribution of different grain sizes affects the engineering properties of soil. Grain size
analysis provides the grain size distribution, and it is required in classifying the soil. Prof. Krishna
Reddy, UIC (2012)

2.2.2. Atterberg limit

Purpose:

This lab is performed to determine the plastic and liquid limits of a fine- grained soil. The liquid limit
(LL) is arbitrarily defined as the water content, in percent, at which a part of soil in a standard cup
and cut by a groove of standard dimensions will flow together at the base of the groove for a distance
of 13 mm (1/2 in.) when subjected to 25 shocks from the cup being dropped 10 mm in a standard
liquid limit apparatus operated at a rate of two shocks per second. The plastic limit (PL) is the water
content, in percent, at which a soil can no longer be deformed by rolling into 3.2 mm (1/8 in.)
diameter threads without crumbling. Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC (2012)

Significance:

The Swedish soil scientist Albert Atterberg originally defined seven “limits of consistency” to classify
fine-grained soils, but in current engineering practice only two of the limits, the liquid and plastic
limits, are commonly used. (A third limit, called the shrinkage limit, is used occasionally.) The
Atterberg limits are based on the moisture content of the soil. The plastic limit is the moisture content
that defines where the soil changes from a semi-solid to a plastic (flexible) state. The liquid limit is
the moisture content that defines where the soil changes from a plastic to a viscous fluid state. The
shrinkage limit is the moisture content that defines where the soil volume will not reduce further if the
moisture content is reduced. Wide variety of soil engineering properties have been correlated to the

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liquid and plastic limits, and these Atterberg limits are also used to classify a fine-grained soil
according to the Unified Soil Classification system or American Association of stats highway
Transportation officials (AASHTO) system. Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC (2012)

2.2.3. Linear shrinkage

Purpose:

This method describes the procedure for the determination of the Linear Shrinkage of soils and
granular materials.

Significance:

This test is used to measure the percentage decrease in dimension of a fine fraction of a soil when
it is dried after having been molded in a wet condition approximately at its liquid limit. The linear
shrinkage is found by determining the change in length of semi-cylindrical bar sample of soil when

it is dries out, starting from its liquid limit or near the liquid limit . Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC

(2012)

2.2.4. Free swell test

Free Swell Index is the increase in volume of a soil, without any external constraints, on submergence
in water.

Significance:
Seasonal changes in moisture content result in volume change in expansive soils, which may
damage structures founded on them. Evaluation of swelling characteristics of expansive soils,
namely, swell potential and swelling pressure, is important for the design of foundations. Many
relationships have been suggested for prediction of swell potential and swelling pressure from
various index properties such as liquid limit, plasticity index, shrinkage index, activity, clay
content, etc., and placement conditions such as initial dry unit weight, initial water content and

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initial surcharge pressure. Free swell index (FSI) indicates the potential expansiveness of a soil. .
Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC (2012)

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 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
To achieve the above objectives, different activities will be conducted in different stages:

3.1. Pre-field work

Literature review of previous related works, gathering important data (topographic and geological
map) and preparation for field data sampling will be the major activities in the pre-field work
stage.

3.2. Field work

A test pits will be bored at different selected locations and disturbed and undisturbed samples will
be collected for the test. The specimen is handled carefully to prevent sample disturbance, change
in cross section, or loss of water content during transportation to the laboratory. GPS reading will
be taken to locate the coordinate of the sampling site.

3.3. Post field work

Proper data Organization and integration of the collected field data are the first step to be done
before any data processing and lab tests. In this stage the following activities will be conducted:

 Laboratory tests, including:

 Free swelling
 Grain size analysis and classification
 linear shrinkage
 Atterberg limit
 Equipment’s and materials which is used for the laboratory test.
 Disturbed and undisturbed sample of soil from field.
 ,Set of sieves
 Cleaning brush
 Sieve shaker
 Mixer
 Hydrometer

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  Sedimentation cylinder
 Control cylinder
 Thermometer
 Beaker
 Liquid limit device
 Porcelain (evaporating) dish
 Flat grooving tool with gage
 Eight moisture cans
 Glass plate,
 Spatula,
 Wash bottle filled with distilled
 Drying oven set at 105°C.
 Photograph camera.
 GPS to locate the ordinate of sampling area.
 Casa granda machine.
 Oven dry machine.
 Free swell test machine.

All the tests will be done according to American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standard

 The results from laboratory tests and field visual identification will be analyzed, interpreted and
final draft of thesis will be written.

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3.4. Work breakdown by chart

Pre- Literature review

Fiel Gathering important data
d
wor
k
sampling
Fiel Test pit
d Field test
wor
k
Post
- Lab test
Fiel Data analysis
d
wor
k
Discussion
Fina Conclussion
lizin
g

Fig. 3. 1 General work proceduce

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 Collection of sample
Establishing Properties of soil

Re-establishing
1. Particle size distribution
properties of
soil after
stabilization 2. Atterberg’s limits
a. Plastic limit
b. Liquid limit
1)(50%-80%) black c. Plasticity index
cotton soil + (30% -
50%) burned clay
3. Swelling index

4. Linear shrinkage

Observations &
Interpretation
5. Modified proctor test
 Optimum moisture content
 Maximum dry density

Conclusion

Fig. 3. 2 Specific work procedure

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 4. WORK PLAN
The activities to be done, and the corresponding time required during the study is expressed by
Gantt chart .Temporarily schedule.

Table 4. 1 Work schedule

March April May June July
N
Activities Week Week Week Week Week
o
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 Literature reviews
Field identification of soil
2
sample
Sampling and sample
3
transportation
Laboratory soil tests and data
4
collection
Data analysis, results, and
5
interpretation
6 Discussion and Concussion
7 Report writing
Report, editing, compiling and
8
submitting

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 5. FINANCIAL BUDGET
The financial budget plan during the study is allocated as follows

Table 5. 1 Cost breakdown

Unit Total
Quantit
No Description Unit Timising price price
y
(birr) (birr)
1. Stationary
1.1 Photo copy ( estimated 2 books) Pages 2 500.00 1.00 1,000.00
1.2 Hard Disk 1 TB PCS 1 1.00 1,000.00 1,000.00
1.3 Blank CD (RW) PCS 1 10.00 25.00 250.00
1.4 For Typing and printing Pages 4 100.00 6.00 2,400.00
1.5 For publishing Pages 4 100.00 10.00 4,000.00
2. Sampling and transportation 0.00
Daily laborers for test pit excavation
2.1 m3 4 6.75 200.00 5,400.00
Width* length *depth (1.5*1.5*3)
2.2 Sample transportation m3 4 0.10 1,000.00 400.00
Sample preparation in Laboratory for 30
2.3 No. 30 1.00 200.00 6,000.00
Day daily workman (Lab expert)
3. Transportation
Researcher days 30 1.00 100.00 3,000.00
4. Contingency
1,000.00
Total 24,450.00

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 Reference

Arora., (2004), Soil mechanics and foundation engineering; engineering college Kota (raj.).

Bowls, (1978), Engineering properties of soil and their measurements; McGraw Hill Book
Company, U.S. America

Chen, F.H. (1988). Foundations on Expansive Soils, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company,
Amsterdam

Danford J. Manki (2000) Laboratory testing manual, Central material laboratory, Dar es Salaam.

Murthy, (1990), Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices of Soil Mechanics and
foundation Engineering, Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York.

Masoumeh Mokhtari & Masoud Dehghani ,Swell Shrink Behavior of Expansive Soils, Damage
and Control‖. EJGE Vol. 12 (2012) http://www.ejge.com/2012/Ppr12.225alr.pdf

Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC (2012), Engineering Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory Testing,
Department of Civil and Materials Engineering University of Illinois at Chicago.

Pune.M/s H.J.Tekawade, Taluka-Purandhar, (2012) woven geo textile tfi 5300 for subgrade
stabilization‖. Works Department Pune/ Integrated Public Works Division, District-Pune

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