PREDICTION OF SWELLING CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPANSIVE SOILS

Prediction of swelling potential is quite important in design of foundations on expansive soils. This paper presents and analyses the results of a laboratory investigation for the swelling characteristics, namely, swell percent at a certain surcharge pressure (Sp) and swelling pressure (SP). The Sp and the SP were measured for four expansive soils compacted at different water contents and dry densities. Analysis of the experimental results demonstrates very clearly a strong linear relationship of Sp and SP with the Factor of initial soil state (Fi), combination of water content, dry density and void ratio. The coefficients of this linear relationship (i.e. constant and slope) were found to depend on clay content, plasticity index and surcharge pressure. Comparison of the measured and predicted values of Sp and SP using the developed equations clearly indicates the reliability of these equations