Characteristic of an Expansive Soil under Climatic Effect

摘要

This paper presents an investigation related to the behaviour of potentially expansive clay, under unsaturated condition, associated with climatic effects. The studies include site and laboratory investigation. The experimental site is located in Pernambuco State coast, in Brazil. The soil of the region is originated from the weathering of the Maria Farinha formation. The suction was monitored using undisturbed specimens obtained at different periods during three years. The specimens were also used to obtain the soil water retention curves. The hysteretic behaviour of the soil in the field could also be evaluated. The suction measurements were made using the filter paper technique. Displacements were measured at the surface and at different depths. The objective of the paper is to present the geotechnical characterization of the site at the light of the unsaturated soil mechanics associated with measurements of volumetric change and atmospheric water balance.