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A Ra t io n a l Me t h o d of P r e dic ting Swe lling P o te ntia l

for Co mpa c te d Ex pa ns ive Clays
M é t h o d e r a t io n n e lle p e r m e t t a n t d e p r é d ir e le p o t e n t ie l d e g o n fle m e n t p o u r le s a r g ile s c o m p a c t e s e x p a n s ib le s

B. V . R A N G A N A T H A M , b .e . ( h o n s ) ( m a d r a s ) , d .i.c . ( lo n d .) , m .s c . ( lo n d .) , p h .d . ( liv e r p o o l) , a .m .i. h .e ., a .m .i.c .e .,

A s s is t ant Profe s s or in S o il Me c hanic s , In d ia n In s titu te o f S cie nce , B ang alo re , In d ia
B. S A T Y A N A R A Y A N A , b .e .( h o n s ) ( a n d h r a ) , m . e . ( i . i . s c . ) , S e nio r Re s e arch Fe llo w , C iv il a n d H y d rau lic E n g ine e ring
De p artm e nt, In d ian In s titu te o f S cie nce , B ang alore , In d ia

SU MMARY S O M M A IR E

T h ou g h cons ide r a ble progres s has be e n ma de in e x plaining Qu o iq u e de cons idér able s pr ogrès aie nt été réalis és e n a p p r o ­
the me c ha nis m o f s we lling in s oils , the re is no s atis factory me thod fondis s a nt le mé c a nis me d u gonfle me nt des sols , a uc u ne mé thode
for pr e dicting the s we lling char acte r is tics . In this pape r a me thod n'a pu c la ir e me n t pr édire les car actér is tique s d u gonfle me nt.
is e volve d for this pur pos e in te r ms o f s hr inkage inde x a nd swe ll Da n s ce t ar ticle u ne mé th ode e m p lo y a n t l ’indice de r e tr ait de
activity. T he r ange o f wate r cont e nt be twe e n the liq u id lim it l’ar gile et l’a c tivité d u gonfle me nt est e x pliquée . La v a r ia t ion de
a nd s hr inka ge lim it , w hic h is a n imp o r t a n t me as ur e o f volume la te ne ur e n e au e ntre le s e uil d u liq uide e t ce lui du re tr ait,
change is calle d the s hr inka ge inde x . T he s we ll a ctivity is me s ure imp or ta nt e da ns le c h a nge me nt de v o lum e , se n o m me
de fine d as the c hange in s hr inka ge inde x divide d by the c or re ­ indice de r e tr ait. L'ac tivité de gonfle me nt est définie c o m m e le
s ponding c hange in c lay fr a c tion. c h a nge me nt de l’indice de r e tr a it divis é p a r le c ha nge me nt c or r e ­
A n um b e r o f s oils , b ot h na t u r a l and a r tific ia lly pr e par e d, have s p on da nt de la fr a c t io n argile us e .
be e n s ucce s s fully clas s ifie d as h a v in g low, m e d iu m , h ig h, or ve ry De s é c ha nt illo ns de sols , nat ur e ls e t pr é paré s a r tificie lle me nt,
hig h s we lling pote n tia l by me ans o f s hr inkage inde x value s . It o n t été clas s ifiés ave c s uccès ave c u n pote ntie l de gonfle me nt bas ,
is fur the r s hown t ha t the qua lita t ive as we ll as q ua ntita tive moye n, éle vé o u très éle vé, e n utilis a nt des vale ur s d ’indice de
e va lua t ion o f the s we ll char acte r is tics o f a c ompa c t e d e xpans ive re tr ait. Il est dé mo nt r é que l’é v a lua tio n qua lita t ive et qua ntita tive
s oil is pos s ible by the use o f s hinkage inde x. des pr opriétés de gonfle me nt d ’un sol c omp a c t e x pans ible est
pos s ible p a r l’e m p lo i de l’indice de re trait.

d u r in g t h e p a s t fe w y e a r s n u m e r o u s s tu die s h a v e be e n fo r t h e p r e d ic t io n o f s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l b a s e d o n t h e p la s t ic it y
c o n d u c t e d t o in v e s t ig a te t h e s w e llin g c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f c o m ­ in d e x give s v a lu e s w it h in ± 33 p e r c e n t e r r o r .
p a c t e d e x pa n s iv e s oils . T h e p r o b le m o f id e n t ify in g thos e It c a n be e a s ily d is c e r n e d fr o m t h is r e v ie w t h a t m o s t o f
s o ils w h ic h a r e lik e ly t o pos s e s s u n d e s ir a b le e x pa ns iv e t h e a p p r o a c h e s a r e e m p ir ic a l in t h a t t h e y a r e u n r e la t e d t o
c h a r a c t e r is t ic s h a s n o t m e t w it h a n y c o n s id e r a b le p r ogr e s s , t h e p h y s ic s o f t h e p r o b le m . A lo g ic a l p a r a m e t e r fo r c o r r e ­
h o w e v e r , b e c a u s e o f t h e lim it e d u n d e r s t a n d in g o f t h e n u m e r ­ la t io n w it h t h e s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l w o u ld be t h e s h r in k a g e
o u s c o m p le x fa c t o r s in v o lv e d . in d e x — t h e r a n g e o f w a t e r c o n t e n t b e t w e e n t h e liq u id lim it
H o lt z a n d G ib b s ( 1 9 5 6 ) h a v e m a d e a n e x te n s ive s t u d y o f a n d t h e s h r in k a g e lim it — fo r t h is is a d ir e c t m e a s u r e o f
t h is p r o b le m a n d r e c o m m e n d e d a n e m p ir ic a l m e t h o d fo r v o lu m e c h a n g e o f s ig n ific a n c e in e n g in e e r in g p r a c t ic e . A
b o t h id e n t ify in g a n d p r e d ic t in g t he e x pa n s iv e c h a r a c t e r is t ic s n e w m e t h o d p r e s e n t e d in t h is p a p e r fo r p r e d ic t in g t h e s w e ll­
o f c o m p a c t e d c la y s . T h e m e t h o d is ba s e d o n t h e m e a s u r e d in g p o t e n t ia l o f a c o m p a c t e d e x pa n s iv e s oil is t h u s b a s e d o n
e x p a n s io n o f s oils fr o m t he a ir - dr y t o t h e s a t u r a t e d c o n d i­ t h e s h r in k a g e in de x . T h e m e t h o d is d e v e lo p e d o n t h e ba s is
t io n , c la y fr a c t io n , p la s t ic it y in d e x , a n d s o o n . T h e v o lu m e ­ o f te s t r e s u lt s o n b la c k c o t t o n s oils , c o n d u c t e d b y t h e a u t h o r s ,
n o m e t e r m e t h o d o f e s t im a t in g t h e p o t e n t ia l e x pa ns iv e ne s s as w e ll as th os e r e p o r t e d b y Se e d, e t al. ( 1 9 6 2 ) .
o f t h e s oil ( B r u ijin , 1 9 6 1 ) is b a s e d o n t h e in it ia l m o is t u r e
c o n t e n t , m o is t u r e c o n t e n t c h a n g e s g o v e r n e d b y t h e p e r m e a ­
s c o p e o f t h e in v e s t ig a t io n
b ilit y c h a r a c t e r is t ic s , a n d t h e b o u n d a r y c o n d it io n s o f the
s o il b o d y . T h e d o u b le o e d o m e t e r te s t ( J e n n in g s a n d K n ig h t , T h e e ffor t s o f t h e p r e s e n t e x p e r im e n t a l in v e s t ig a t io n a r e
1 9 5 8 ) fo r e s t im a t in g t h e h e a v e o f a s t r u c t u r e is b a s e d o n c o n c e n t r a t e d o n t h e d e t e r m in a t io n o f s w e ll c h a r a c t e r is t ic s
t he d e g r e e o f d e s s ic a t io n , t h e a c t iv it y o f t h e s oil, o v e r b u r d e n , o f b la c k c o t t o n s o ils o b t a in e d fr o m d iffe r e n t tr ac ts in
a n d a p p lie d lo a d in g . Se e d, et al. ( 1 9 6 2 ) h a v e e x t e n d e d the s o u t h e r n In d ia . T h e p r o p e r t ie s o f t he s e s oils a r e r e p o r t e d
s t ud y , c o n d u c t in g a n u m b e r o f te s ts o n a r t ific ia l s oils p r e ­ in T a b le I w h ic h s ho w s t h a t a g o o d r a n g e o f fr e e s w e ll
p a r e d b y m ix in g c o m m e r c ia lly a v a ila b le c la y m in e r a ls w it h is c o v e r e d. Als o s h o w n in t h e s a m e t a b le a r e t h e v a lu e s o f
d iffe r e n t p r o p o r t io n s o f s a n d. A w e ll- de fine d r e la t io n s h ip t h e s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l c a lc u la t e d b y t h e e m p ir ic a l m e t h o d s
wa s e s t a blis he d b e t w e e n t h e c la y fr a c t io n , a c t iv it y o f t h e o f Se e d, et al. T h e d iffe r e n c e (3 0 t o 6 5 p e r c e n t ) b e t w e e n
s o il, a n d s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l (d e fin e d as t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e e x p e r im e n t a l a n d t h e c a lc u la t e d v a lu e s is c o n s id e r a b le .
s w e ll u n d e r a l- ps i s u r c h a r g e o f a s a m p le c o m p a c t e d at T h is e x c e e ds t h e lim it s ( ± 33 p e r c e n t ) c la im e d by t h e
o p t im u m m o is t u r e c o n t e n t t o m a x im u m d r y d e n s it y in the a u t h o r s t h e r e b y in d ic a t in g t h e ne ce s s ity fo r a m o r e r a t io n a l
s t a n d a r d A A S H O c o m p a c t io n t e s t ). A s im p lifie d m e t h o d approa ch.

92
 T A B L Ií I . P R O P IÍ K T IE S O F T H E S O IL S 1N V K S T IG AT K I)

Prope r tie s Soil A Soil B Soil C Soil D

Liq u id lim it 5 4 .4 4 9 .5 6 9 .6 7 4 .4
P la s tic lim it 2 4 .7 2 0 .2 3 9 .2 3 7 .8
P la s t ic it y inde x 2 9 .7 2 9 .3 3 0 .4 3 6 .6
S hr in ka g e lim it (pe r c e nt) 8 .0 1 0 .9 1 2 .4 1 3 .2
C la y c o n t e n t (p e r c e n t) 28 15 18 38
Op t im u m mois tur e
c o nt e nt (pe r ce nt) 15 1 2 .6 25 20
Ma x . d r y de ns ity
(Ibs / cu. ft .) 11 2.5 117 9 8 .5 1 0 5.0
Fre e swe ll (pe r ce nt) 13 3.5 126 193 209
Shr in ka g e inde x 4 6 .4 3 8 .6 5 7 .2 6 1 .2
Swe lling pote n tia l
Ex pe r ime n ta l 14 .9 11 17 .2 2 0 .2
E mp ir ic a l* 6 .4 3 5 .4 6 .0 4 1 2 .8
E r r o r (pe r ce nt) 57 51 65 37
E m p ir ic a lf 8 7 .9 9 .5 14
E rr or (pe r ce nt) 47 30 45 30
•C a lc u la te d b y the r e la t io n s hip (See d, et al., 1962) S P = 3.6 X
10"5 X A i w X C3 «.
fCa lc u la t e d b y the r e la t ions hip (Se e d, et al., 1962) S P =
K . 60 . (/>/)*■«. f ig . 2. Re la tio ns hip be twe e n s hr inkage inde x a nd
c lay fr a c tion .
S H R IN K A G E IN D E X
c la y fr a c t io n . T h e s lo p e o f lin e is d e fin e d as t h e s w e ll a c t iv it y
It is w e ll k n o w n t h a t m a n y p la s t ic c la y s u n d e r ze r o c o n ­ o f t h e s o il w h ic h c a n be e x pr e s s e d a s : S w e ll a c t iv it y ( S A ) =
fin in g p r e s s u r e w ill im b ib e w a t e r u n t il t h e y r e a c h a n e q u i­ C h a n g e in s h r in k a g e in d e x / C o r r e s p o n d in g c h a n g e in c la y
lib r iu m w a t e r c o n t e n t a p p r o x im a t in g t h e liq u id lim it . T h is fr a c t io n = a ( S I ) / a C.
is a ls o c o r r o b o r a t e d b y t he le s t r e s ults s h o w n in F ig . 1. By
R E L A T IO N S H IP BET WEEN SW ELL A C T IV IT Y , CLAY F R A C T IO N ,
A N D S W E L L IN G P O T E N T IA L

A s a lr e a d y e s t a b lis h e d (S e e d , e t al., 1 9 6 2 ), t h e a m o u n t
o f s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l fo r a n y c la y inc r e a s e s in a c c o r d a n c e
w it h t h a t o f t h e c la y fr a c t io n , w h ic h w h e n s ta t e d m a t h e ­
m a t ic a lly is
SP = K CX (1 )
w h e r e S P is t h e s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l, C is t h e c la y fr a c t io n
( < 2 / i) , x a n d K a r e c o n s t a n t s d e p e n d in g o n t h e t y p e o f
c la y . T h e v a lu e s fo r K a n d x fo r e a c h c la y a r e d e t e r m in e d b y
p lo t t in g lo g S P v ersus lo g C (s e e F ig . 3 ) . T h u s e q u a t io n
( 1 ) be comes
lo g S P = lo g K + x lo g C. (2 )
L iq u id lim it %
T h e e x p o n e n t x is d e t e r m in e d b y t h e s lo p e o f t h e lin e a n d
f ig. 1. Re la tio ns hip be twe e n liq uid t h e c o e ffic ie n t K b y t h e v a lu e o f S P w h e n C = 1. It w a s
lim it a n d e q u ilib r iu m wate r cont e nt o bs e r v e d t h a t x w o u ld be c lo s e t o 3 .4 4 fo r a n y t y p e o f c la y
u nd e r ze r o c o nfining pre s s ure. a n d t h e c o e ffic ie n t K is t h e o n ly fa c t o r d iffe r e n t ia t in g o n e
fr o m t h e o t h e r w h ic h is a c h a r a c t e r is t ic in d e x o f t h e s w e llin g
t h e v e r y d e fin it io n , t he r e w ill n o t be a n y d e c r e a s e in v o lu m e p o t e n t ia l o f a n y g iv e n t y p e o f c la y . T h e v a lu e s (S e e d et al.,
o n d r y in g t h e s o il b e lo w t h e s h r in k a g e lim it . O b v io u s ly 1 9 6 2 ) o f K s o d e t e r m in e d a r e r e p o r t e d in T a b le II.
th e s e fo r m t h e u p p e r a n d lo w e r lim it s o f v o lu m e c h a ng e s , T h e c o e ffic ie n t K d iffe r e n t ia t in g e a c h t y p e o f c la y is
t h e lo w e r lim it (s h r in k a g e lim it ) b e lo w w h ic h t h e r e is n o b e lie v e d t o be r e la t e d t o t h e s w e ll a c t iv it y w h ic h d e n o t e s t h e
d e c r e a s e in v o lu m e o n d r y in g , a n d t h e u p p e r lim it ( liq u id e x p a n s iv e c a p a b ilit y . In o r d e r t o s e e t h e p o s s ib ilit y o f s u c h
lim it ) a b o v e w h ic h s o ils a r e n o t g e n e r a lly m e t in c iv il a r e la t io n s h ip , v a lu e s o f K a r e p lo t t e d a g a in s t t h e c o r r e ­
e n g in e e r in g p r a c t ic e . T h e r a n g e o f w a t e r c o n t e n t b e t w e e n s p o n d in g v a lu e s o f s w e ll a c t iv it y (o b t a in e d fr o m F ig . 2 a n d
th e s e t w o lim it s , c a lle d s h r in k a g e in d e x , is t h u s c o n s id e r e d r e p o r t e d in T a b le I I ) in F ig . 3 o n log- log s c a le . It w ill be
a p p r o p r ia t e fo r t h e p r e d ic t io n o f v o lu m e c h a n g e c h a r a c ­
T AHI.1- : I I . Y A L L K S O F K A N D S W E L L A C T IV IT Y F O R
t e r is tics . T H Ii A R T IF IC IA L S O IL S

S W E L L A C T IV IT Y
K Swe ll
T h e p o t e n t ia l e x pa ns iv e ne s s d e p e n d s o n m a n y fa c t o r s , t h e T y pe o f d a y (a fte r Se e d et al.) a c t iv it y
m o s t im p o r t a n t b e in g t h e t y p e a n d a m o u n t o f c la y fr a c t io n
o f t he s o il. T h e s h r in k a g e in d e x is a lr e a d y s h o w n t o be Be n to nit e 152 X 1 0 's 3 .9
1:1 ¡Hite / be ntonite 7X X 10~s 2 .8 4
a n o t h e r im p o r t a n t fa c t o r . F o r a ll t h e a r t ific ia lly p r e p a r e d 6:1 k a o lin it e / be n t o n it e 3 1 .6 X 10- s —
s o ils (S e e d , e t al., 1 9 6 2 ) Ih e c la y fr a c t io n is p lo t t e d a g a in s t 3:1 illit e / b e n t o n it e 5 .5 X 10- s 1.29
t h e s h r in k a g e in d e x in F ig . 2 . It w ill be s e e n t h a t t h e p o in t s 1:1 illit e / k a o lin it c 1.12 X 10"s 0 .6
d e fin e a s e r ie s o f s t r a ig h t lin e s r e la t in g s h r in k a g e in d e x t o Ka o linit e 0 . 2 8 X1 0 - * 0 .3

93
 A s t he s o ils u s e d in t h is in v e s t ig a t io n c o v e r e d a w id e r a n g e
o f c la y m in e r a ls , it s e e ms r e a s o n a b le t o e x p e c t t h is t o be
g e n e r a lly a p p lic a b le t o a ll e x p a n s iv e s o ils in a s a t is fa c t o r y
manne r.

E V A L U A T IO N O F S W E L L IN G P O T E N T IA L

A s s e e n fr o m e q u a t io n ( 1 ) , t h e s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l is a
f u n c t io n o f c la y fr a c t io n a n d a c o e ffic ie n t w h ic h in t u r n is a
fu n c t io n o f s w e ll a c t iv it y . C o m b in in g e q u a t io n s ( 1 ) a n d ( 4 )
w e ge t

S P = ( 4 .5 7 X 1 0 - *) X ( S A ) 2-07 X ( C 3-44) . (5 )

s h o w in g t h a t t h e e x p a n s io n c h a r a c t e r is t ic s c a n b e q u a n t it a ­
t iv e ly e v a lu a t e d in t e r m s o f c la y fr a c t io n a n d t h e s w e ll
a c t iv it y . A fa m ily o f c ur v e s is d r a w n in F ig . 4 , fr o m w h ic h
t h e s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l c a n be e v a lu a t e d r e a d ily b y p lo t t in g
t h e p o s it io n o f t h e s o il in t he c u r ve s .

U S E O F S H R IN K A G E I N D E X T O P R E D IC T T H E S W E L L IN G
P O T E N T IA L

It is s h o w n t h a t t h e s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l is a f u n c t io n o f
c la y c o n t e n t a n d s w e ll a c t iv it y

SP = a ( S A ) 2-«7 X ( C 3-44) . (5 a )

f ig . 3. Re la tio ns hip be twe e n coe fficie nt K a n d s we ll F r o m t h e d e fin it io n o f t h e s w e ll a c t iv it y ,

a c tivity fo r e x pe r ime nta l s oils .
S A = A ( S I) / A C ( 6)

s e e n t h a t a r e la t io n s h ip o f t h e fo r m o r s w e ll a c t iv it y c a n a ls o b e e x pr e s s e d as

K = «(S A )* (3 ) SA = S I / ( C —n ) (7 )

c a n be e s t a b lis h e d b e t w e e n t h e c o e ffic ie n t K a n d t he c o r r e ­ w h e r e n is t h e in t e r c e p t o f t h e c u r v e ( F ig . 2 ) o n t h e a x is
s p o n d in g s w e ll a c t iv it y ( S A ) w h e r e a, y a r e c o n s t a n t s . T h e r e p r e s e n t in g c la y fr a c t io n , a n d t h e n- v a lue s v a r y fr o m 4 t o
v a lu e s o f a a n d y d e fin in g t h e a b o v e r e la t io n s h ip a r e ( fr o m 2 2 fo r t h e s o ils in c lu d e d in t h e s t u d y . S u b s t it u t io n o f
F ig . 3 ) 4 .5 7 X 1 0-r> a n d 2 .6 7 r e s p e c t iv e ly . T h u s it m a y be e q u a t io n ( 3 ) in e q u a t io n ( 5 ) give s
c o n c lu d e d t h a t fo r t h e a r t ific ia l s o ils in v e s t ig a t e d ,
S P = a [ S I/ ( C - n ) ] 2-GT X C 3-44
K = ( 4 .5 7 X IQ"“ ) X ( S A ) 2-07. (4 )
= a ( S I ) 2 C7[ C 3-44/ ( C - « ) 2C7]

= a ( S I ) 2<i7A/ (8 )

in w h ic h N = C 3-44/ ( C — n ) 2(i7. T h e a c c u r a c y o f t h e v a lu e
o f s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l d e p e n d s o n t h e v a lu e o f N in e q u a t io n
( 8 ).
V a lu e s o f N c a n be r e a d ily c o m p u t e d fo r d iffe r e n t v a lu e s
o f C a n d n. A fa m ily o f ‘C—n —N ’ c u r ve s a r e s h o w n in

f ig . 4, Re la t ion s h ip be twe e n s we lling p ote ntial,

s we ll a c tivity, a nd c la y fr a c tion .

9 4
F ig . 5 , fr o m w h ic h t h e v a lu e s o f iV c o u ld b e r e a d fo r a n y w h e r e 0 a n d p a r e c o n s t a n t s . T h e c o n s t a n t s e v a lu a t e d fr o m
s e t o f C a n d n v a lu e s . It m a y be s e e n t h a t fo r n = 13, F ig . 6 a r e : fo r a r t ific ia l s o ils 0 = 1 / 2 5 6 a n d p = 2 .3 7 ;
w h ic h r e p r e s e n ts t h e a v e r a g e v a lu e fo r t h e s o ils in c lu d e d in fo r n a t u r a l s o ils $ = 1 / 6 .3 a n d p = 1 .1 7 . T h is r e la t io n s h ip
t h e s t u d y , t h e v a lu e o f N r a n g e s fr o m 4 5 t o 7 0 (m e a n ( E q 1 0 ) is in c o n fo r m it y w it h t h e r e la t io n s h ip ( E q 8 )
v a lu e o f 5 7 .5 ) fo r s o ils w it h t h e c la y fr a c t io n b e t w e e n 3 0 a r r iv e d a t fr o m s h r in k a g e in d e x a n d s w e ll a c t iv it y . A d ir e c t
a n d 7 0 . T h u s fo r s o ils w it h c la y fr a c t io n ly in g in t h is r a n g e , r e la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l a n d s h r in k a g e in d e x
a d ir e c t r e la t io n s h ip be t w e e n t h e s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l a n d is t h u s e s t a b lis h e d.
s h r in k a g e in d e x c o u ld be e x pr e s s e d as

S P = (2 6 3 X 10- ®) X ( S I ) 2-*7. (9 ) C L A S S IF IC A T IO N O F S O IL S U S IN G S H R IN K A G E IN D E X

T h is g iv e s v a lu e s o f s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l a c c u r a t e w it h in ± 2 2 T o e n a b le a s o il e n g in e e r t o id e n t ify a n d s p o t a n e x p a n ­
pe r ce nt. s ive s o il w h ic h m ig h t n e e d fu r t h e r d e t a ile d in v e s t ig a t io n
F r o m t h e r e s ults o f la b o r a t o r y te s ts o n n a t u r a l s oils , a r e g a r d in g t h e s w e ll c h a r a c t e r is t ic s u n d e r a c t u a l fie ld c o n d i­
v a lu e o f 9 fo r N h a s b e e n a r r iv e d a t . T h e v a lu e s o f s w e llin g t io n s , it is d e s ir a b le t o e s t a b lis h a c la s s ific a t io n s y s t e m b a s e d
p o t e n t ia l c a lc u la t e d o n t h is b a s is a n d t h os e e x p e r im e n t a lly o n s h r in k a g e in d e x .
d e t e r m in e d a r e g iv e n in T a b le III. It c a n be s e e n t h a t e ve n T a b le IV g ive s t h e lim it s o f t h e s h r in k a g e in d e x fo r lo w ,
m e d iu m , h ig h , o r v e r y h ig h s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l in a c c o r d a n c e
T A B L E I I I . C O M P A R IS O N O F 10X PI CIt IM 1CN T A L A N D C A L C U L A T E D
V A L U E S O F S W E L L I N G P O T E N T IA L
w it h t h e U S B R c la s s ific a t io n . U s in g th e s e lim it s o f s h r in k a g e
in d e x , th ir t y - t h r e e o u t o f t h ir t y- e ig ht s o ils (S e e d et al.,
Soil t ype 1 9 6 2 ) a g r e e w it h t h e U S B R c la s s ific a t io n ( F ig . 7 ) .

A B C D T A B L E IV . C L A S S IF IC A T IO N O F E X P A N S I V E
S O IL S W IT H T H E S H R I N K A G E I N D E X A S B A S IS
E x p e r ime n ta l value s 14 .9 11 1 7 .2 2 0 .2
Ca lc u la t e d by Clas s ification Ra ng e of s hr inka ge inde x
s hr inka ge inde x
factor 1 1 .7 7 .2 2 0 .2 2 4 .3
Low 0- 20
E r r o r (pe r ce nt) 2 1 .5 34 1 7 .5 20
Me d iu m 20- 30
High 30- 60
fo r t h e n a t u r a l s o ils t h e v a lu e s o f s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l c o u ld \ cr y high >60
b e e v a lu a t e d q u a n t it a t iv e ly w it h in ± 3 4 p e r c e n t . H e n c e
fo r n a t u r a l s o ils :
I '
SP = ( 4 1 .1 3 X 10- 3) X ( S I ) 2 *7. (9 a ) p op osed bo undaries fc r shrinkage in dex B a se d on swe ing
PC ten tia l data ®
Low M e d iu m H iah
D IR E C T R E L A T IO N S H IP BET WEEN S W E L L IN G P O T E N T IA L AN D 0-20 2 0 -3 0 30-60 >60
S H R IN K A G E IN D E X

F ig . 6 s h o w s a r e la t io n s h ip be t w e e n s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l a n d
s h r in k a g e in d e x p lo t t e d o n a log - log s c a le . It is s e e n t h a t
A
t h e r e la t io n s h ip fo r n a t u r a l a n d a r t ific ia l s o ils is s im ila r b u t
is &
n o t id e n t ic a l. It is o f t h e fo r m £ fc

SP = # ( S I) p (1 0 ) A' ^

**-

Vi 5s.
i*

• Vs
"4
9*° «
* *>6
Vk iS* • A r t if c ia l soils
9» a N atu a l soils

O
-- •--■
_!------ ------ ------ ------ ------ I____
IO
£»«•
20 30 40 SO 60 70
S h r in k a g e in d e x

f ig . 7. Cla s s ific a tion o f e x pans ive s oils bas e d on s hr inka ge inde x .

C O N C L U S IO N S

F r o m t h e d a t a o n a r t ific ia l s o ils , a r e la t io n s h ip is
o b t a in e d b e t w e e n t h e s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l, s h r in k a g e in d e x ,
a n d s w e ll a c t iv it y . It is s h o w n t h a t b y u s in g t h e s h r in k a g e
in d e x , w h ic h is a r a t io n a l in d e x fo r v o lu m e c h a n g e s o f c la y s ,
q u a lit a t iv e as w e ll a s q u a n t it a t iv e e v a lu a t io n o f t h e s w e llin g
p o t e n t ia l o f e x p a n s iv e s o ils is p o s s ib le .
A c la s s ific a t io n s y s t e m b a s e d s o le ly o n t h e s h r in k a g e in ­
d e x is d e v e lo p e d fo r p r e d ic t in g t h e d e g r e e o f s w e ll p o t e n t ia l.
A m o n g t h e m e t h o d s d e v e lo p e d fo r p r e d ic t in g t h e s w e llin g
f ig . 6. Dir e c t r e la t ions hip be twe e n p o t e n t ia l, t h e o n e n o w p r o p o s e d p r e d ic t s v a lu e s w h ic h a r e
s we lling pote n tia l a nd s hr inkage inde x. c lo s e r t o t h e e x p e r im e n t a l v a lu e s .

95
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT S n at io n al Co n fe re n c e on S o il M e c h an ic s a n d Fo u n d at io n
E n g ine e rin g, V o l . 1, p . 4 3 .
T h e a u t h o r s a r e in d e b t e d t o P r o f. N . S. G o v in d a R a o ,
H o l t z , W . G . , a n d H . T . G i b b s ( 1 9 5 6 ) . E n g in e e r in g p r o p e r t ie s
P r o fe s s o r o f C iv il a n d H y d r a u lic E n g in e e r in g , In d ia n In s t i­
o f e x p a n s iv e s o ils . T rans . A m e ric an S ocie ty o f C iv il E n g i­
t u t e o f S c ie nc e , fo r h is c o n s t a n t h e lp a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t in nee rs, p . 6 4 1 .
t h is s t u d y . D r . A . S iva R e d d y ’s d is c u s s io ns a n d c r it ic is m a r e J e n n i n g s , J . E . B ., a n d K . K n i g h t ( 1 9 5 8 ) . T h e p r e d ic t io n o f
g r a t e fu lly a c k n o w le d g e d . T h e fa c ilit ie s p r o v id e d b y t h e t o t a l h e a v e f r o m t h e d o u b le o e d o m e t e r t e s t . S y m p o s iu m on
a u t h o r it ie s o f t h e In d ia n In s t it u t e o f S c ie nc e a n d t he U n i­ Ex pans iv e Clay s , p . 1 3 . S o u t h A f r ic a n In s t it u t io n o f C iv il
ve r s it y G r a n t s C o m m is s io n a r e g r a t e fu lly a c k n o w le d g e d . E n g in e e r s .
S e e d , H . B ., R . J . W o o d w a r d , j r . , a n d R . L u n d g r e n ( 1 9 6 2 ) .
REF EREN CES P r e d ic t in g s w e llin g p o t e n t ia l f o r c o m p a c t e d c la y s . Pro c .
B r u ijin ( 1 9 6 1 ) . S w e llin g c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f a t r a n s p o r t e d s o il
A m e ric an S o cie ty o f C iv il Eng ine e rs , J u n e , p . 6 3 .
p r o f ile a t L e e h o f V e r e e n ig in g ( T r a n s v a a l ) . Pro c . Fif t h In t e r-

96