Mitigation of swelling characteristics of expansive clay by controlling initial placement conditions

摘要

This paper presents the results of an experimental study to explore the effects of initialrnplacement moisture content and dry density on swelling characteristics of expansive clay. Remolded samplesrnof clay procured from an expansive soil area in Pakistan were prepared by compacting them at varying moisturerncontent and dry density. The density of the samples was varied by changing the compacting effort in thernrange of standard and modified proctor methods with moisture content varying between 10% and 25%. Swellrntests were carried out using standard odeometer apparatus through which swell potential (percent swell) andrnswell pressure of the compacted clay samples were determined. The results of the study revealed that thernswell potential of the compacted samples decreases considerably when the compaction moisture content is increasedrnat a particular density. On the other hand, the swell potential has an increasing trend with increasingrncompaction density at specific moisture content. The swell pressure decreases with increases in moisture contentrnand increases with increase in compaction density. Based on the experimental results, it is inferred thatrnthe compaction of swelling soils slightly on wet of optimum and avoiding over compaction may help mitigatingrntheir swelling potential which otherwise can cause severe distress to civil engineering structures, especiallyrnto lightly loaded structures.