FACTORS AFFECTING THE SWELLING PRESSURE MEASURED BY THE OEDEMETER METHOD

Authors

  • C.P.G. Jayalath
  • C. Gallage
  • N.S. Miguntanna

Keywords:

Expansive Soil, Swelling Pressure, Unsaturated Soil, Consolidation/Swell Apparatus

Abstract

Expansive soils are common in arid and semi-arid climate regions of the world and cause
severe problems on civil engineering structures. The Swelling potential of the expansive soil mainly depends
upon the properties of soil and environmental factors, and stress conditions. Swelling pressure is a key
parameter used in designing structures in and on expansive soil. The swelling pressure of soil is measured in
the laboratory using a representative soil samples. The size and the surface friction of the sample ring used in
the swelling pressure test have effects on the measured swelling pressure and they have not properly been
investigated. In this study, a series of constant volume swelling tests were conducted using an automated
consolidation-swell apparatus to evaluate the effect of sample ring size, ring friction, initial dry density, and
initial moisture content (IMC). Test results indicate an exponential growing trend of swelling pressure when
the dry density is increased. Similarly, high swell pressures are achieved when the IMC is increased for the
same dry density. A higher swelling pressure was measured when the friction of the specimen ring was
reduced. The measured swelling pressure increases with increasing the height of the sampling ring and it
decreases when the ring diameter is increased. Therefore, it is recommended to use a standard sample ring
reducing inside wall friction using lubricants when measuring the swelling pressure in the laboratory.
Further, the sample ring size, initial density and initial moisture content of soil should be given when
reporting swelling pressure of soil.

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Published

2017-04-11

How to Cite

C.P.G. Jayalath, C. Gallage, & N.S. Miguntanna. (2017). FACTORS AFFECTING THE SWELLING PRESSURE MEASURED BY THE OEDEMETER METHOD. GEOMATE Journal, 11(24), 2397–2402. Retrieved from https://geomatejournal.com/geomate/article/view/2083