Many of the attempts made over the past six decades to find a universal
system for assessing expansiveness of soils using soil index data have failed
to follow the basic principles of soil mechanics. By overcoming most of
these limitations Gourley and Schreiner (1993a) developed a new procedure
that allows comparison of intrinsic expansiveness of soil samples prepared
to have stable micro-fabric and consistent stress history. In this research,
the same procedure is used on twenty-seven natural clayey soil samples of
varying geological, geomorphological and geographical origin obtained from
Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea and South Africa. Each of these samples was tested
for Atterberg limits, volume change behaviours and soil suction. Statistical
analysis was conducted on different soil parameters derived from these
tests to obtain a significant relationship with their intrinsic expansiveness
using measured swell. The analysis confirmed that most of the significant
relationships obtained contain swell index, C*5' showing the identicalness of
the soil properties responsible for volume change behaviour of both
saturated and unsaturated clayey soils. Depending on the cost and the
significance, the analysis recommended three major models that can be
used as a screening system in the assessment of intrinsic expansiveness.
For any soil it is possible to obtain preliminary information regarding its
intrinsic expansiveness using the cheapest of the recommended models that
needs liquid and plastic limit tests and hydrometer analysis, which are the
routine tests of geotechnical site investigation. A more detailed assessment
can be achieved by including only t he shrinkage test. The most reliable
assessment needs addition of consolidation test with the unloading stage.
All of the models allow obtaining information regarding the intrinsic
expansiveness of soils as early as site investigation stage for successful
engineering design. Moreover, they are anticipated to promote worldwide
exchange of information regarding these problematic soils. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/3661 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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