Predicting swelling characteristics with swell-related parameters

Expansive soils are problematic by virtue of their inherent capacity to undergo volumetric changes corresponding to changes in moisture content. These soils undergo alternate swelling and shrinkage in rainy seasons and summers and cause severe damage to lightly loaded civil engineering structures. It is necessary to identify these soils based on their degree of expansion. Direct measurement of swell potential and swelling pressure and their indirect correlation with index properties like liquid limit, plasticity index, activity, shrinkage index and free swell index (FSI) are well-known identification methods. Some of the above index properties are not swell-related. But, parameters like free swell index (FSI) and shrinkage limit (SL) are swell-related. This work explores predicting swelling characteristics with swell- related parameters. Further, shrinkage limit was included in the compound parameter system with clay content, plasticity index, liquid limit and free swell index. Useful data were obtained. The data and discussion presented in this book would be helpful to students and researchers.

Autorentext

K. Amrutha is a Research Student in the Department of Civil Engineering, VIT, Vellore, India. She works on expansive soils and ground improvement. B. R. Phanikumar is Professor of Civil Engineering, VIT, Vellore, India. He too works on expansive soils and ground improvement. He wrote 210 papers for journals and conferences.