SVR ENGINEERING COLLEGE

D. Udaya Bhanu
14AM5A0130
CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 CAUSES OF MOISTURE CHANGE
 PARAMETRES
 EFFECTS
 REMEDIAL MEASURES
 REMARKS
INTRODUCTION
 Engineering structures constructed on expansive soils
are subjected to highly detrimental behavior of such
soils, leading to their damage and cracking. In that
foundation is the lowest load-bearing part of
engineering infrastructures such as building and
dams, typically below ground level.
 Expansive soils owe their characteristics to the
presence of swelling clay minerals. As they get wet, the
clay minerals absorb water molecules and expand;
conversely, as they dry they shrink, leaving large voids
in the soil
 The damages occur due to the swelling and shrinkage
behavior of such soils, since the structures built on
such soils get lifted up during rainy season ( due to the
heave of the foundation soil) and settle down during
summer season (due to shrinkage of the foundation
soil).
 Due to this uplift and settlement, the structures,
particularly the lighter ones, get damaged and cracked,
if are not taken to prevent lifting of the structures.
VARIATION OF SOIL MOISTURE
 The detrimental behavior of the expansive soils, as
stated above, is primarily caused by the variation of
water content in them, since with the intake of water,
they swell while with the removal of water they
shrink.
 The study of the variation of water content with season
and with depth, therefore, becomes important in the
study of their behavior. This study shows a typical
pattern of water content as shown in the fig
Figure . Variation of water content in expansive
soils in dry as well as in wet season.
 It can be seen from that during summer season, the
natural water content is practically zero at the surface
and reaches maximum, wn(max) in the rainy season.
However, the water content remains practically
constant (wn) beyond at depth Dus , called the unstable
zone depth.
 The depth of unstable zone, Dus is an important factor,
since it is this depth, in which the soil is subjected to
drying and wetting undergoing considerable
movements,
CAUSES OF MOISTURE CHANGE
Moisture changes can be due to natural process or
due to human activities. Some of the common causes
for the moisture changes are as follows
 Moisture changes may occur due to change in the
water table.
 Moisture may increase due to landscaping and
irrigation of lawns and kitchen gardens around the
building.
 If the vegetation around the building is removed, the
transpiration will stop and the moisture will increase.
 If the surface water drainage becomes defective and
the runoff is obstructed, the water will infiltrate the
ground and cause moisture changes.
 Moisture changes may occur due to seasonal changes if
there is a large variation in temperature in different
seasons.
 If a slab or a pavement is placed directly on the ground
, the direct evaporation of water is stopped. Moreover,
direct infiltration of rain water is prevented.
PARAMETERS
In order to define the damage potential of a
given expansive soil, certain technical terms are used ,
which are enumerated and defined below.

 Swelling potential
 Swelling pressure
 Free swell
Swelling Potential
 The swelling potential of an expansive soil is defined
as the percentage swell of a laterally confined soil
sample, when tested in a consolidation test fig 2,when
soaked under a surcharge load of 7 KN/m2 , after
being compacted to maximum dry density at optimum
moisture content.
 The swelling characteristics of a soil, besides being
exhibited by its swelling potential, can also be
indicated by the plasticity index and shrinkage limit.
The relation between swelling potential and plasticity
index (Ip) is reflected .
 Seed, Woodward and Lundren has empirically
connected the swelling potential with plasticity index
by the equation:
Sp = 60k.Ip2.44
Where
 Sp = swelling potential
 Ip = Plasticity index
 k = a constant, whose value is given as 3.6 x10-5 for
soils having clay content between 8 and 60 %
SWELLING PRESSURE
 Swelling pressure Ps is defined as the pressure required
to prevent any volume expansion in a soil in contact
with water. The swelling pressure of a soil sample can
be measured in the laboratory by using a conventional
one dimensional consolidometer.
 A soil sample of 1.5 to 2.5 cm thickness is enclosed
between the two porous plates of the consolidometer
and confined in a metal ring of 5 to 10 cm diameter .
Vertical expansion of the sample is measured under
different imposed vertical pressures, after being
flooded with water.
Compaction and transference of
expansive soil into consolidation ring.
FREE SWELL
 Free swell (Sf ) is the swelling (percent) of a given soil under
zero vertical pressure. Take 10 cm3 (Vi) of dry soil passing
through sieve No. 200 is poured into 100 cm3 graduated
cylindrical containing water as shown in fig . The volume of
expansive soil will expand, on coming in contact with
water. The free swell (Sf ) is then computed as:
Sf = {( Vf – Vi )/ Vi }*100
Where
Vi = Initial volume of dry poured soil = 10 cm3
Vf = Final volume of poured soil after 24 hrs contact with
water.
Free swell method
EFFECT ON STRUCTURES
 The most obvious way in which expansive soils can
damage foundations is by uplift as they swell with
moisture increases. Swelling soils lift up and crack
lightly-loaded, continuous strip footings, and
frequently cause distress in floor slabs.
 Because of the different building loads on different
portions of a structure's foundation, the resultant
uplift will vary in different areas.
A rectangular slab, uniformly loaded,
will tend to lift up in the corners because
there is less confinement
(1) At the beginning of the rainy season
(2) After 5 to 10 large storms,
(3) ) In the dry season,
REMEDIAL MEASURES
GRANULAR FILL
In this method, excavation is carried up to a depth
greater than the depth of foundation by about 20 to 30
cm , as shown in fig , freely draining soil material, such
as a mixture of sand and gravel is filled and compacted
up to the bottom level of the foundation.
Reinforced concrete footing foundation is
constructed at this level, over which the brick wall may
be raised.
Foundation on expansive soils
CNS TECHNOLOGY
 This method consists in laying a layer of some cohesive
non swell soil over the expensive soil in sufficient
depth, so as to counteract the detrimental effects of
heaving, caused by the lower expansive soil.
 The larger the thickness of CNS introduced over the
expansive soil, the lesser would be the resulting
swelling and deformations.
DRILLED PIERS
 Belled piers the same characteristics as skin friction
piers, except that they depend only on end bearing (as
shown in fig). The bottom of the pier is "belled out" by
under-reaming to a diameter two to three times larger
than the pier shaft, in order to provide additional
bearing area on the bearing stratum.
 This system is most commonly used in areas where
competent shale or limestone is uneconomically deep.
Drilled pier foundation
CONCLUSION
 Expansive soils are very problematic during the
construction of foundations.
 Foundation on expansive soils is affected by the
behavior of soil under different moisture content.
 The swelling tendency of expansive soils on
foundation can be quantified by the swell potential
and swelling pressure parameters.
 The major engineering problem of expansive soils on
foundation is shrink-swelling characteristics of the
soil.
REFERRENCES
 Rajapakse, R. (2008).Selection of Foundation Type.
Geotechnical Engineering Calculations and Rules of
Thumb. 171-175
 Soil mechanic and foundation engineering by S.K Garg
 Foundation engineering by Joseph Bowels.
 Soil mechanics and foundation engineering by
Dr.K.R.Arora.