Effect of swelling mineral on geotechnical characteristics of clay soil

Abstract

The shrinking and swelling is a very common phenomenon in the world, mainly in arid and semiarid areas. The construction on these soils often requires a study of the risk of swelling, in advance. The emergence of this phenomenon in soils is caused primarily by the presence of swelling clays and water. The risk is most significant when the rate of the expansive minerals, such as bentonite, is important. Several researchers have studied the relationship between the percentages of swelling minerals and soil swelling potential. The researchers have shown the difficulty of characterization, because of the complexity of the phenomenon under natural conditions, where several other phenomena occur, and which are not considered in laboratory experimentation. This article addresses the characterization of several soils, with different swelling rates from the physical, chemical and mechanical tests. It shows the relationship between the quantity of swelling minerals and some site conditions, such as water content and consolidation stress, on the ability of soil to swell. This work aims to establish empirical relationships between the percentage of swelling minerals and soil swelling potential.

Basics of Clay Minerals and Their Characteristic Properties

“…Swelling clay minerals are geological type of materials containing the mineral particles more than 50% with less than 2-micron size. The main mineral components of clay minerals are dispersed layer silicate [60]. The swelling properties of clay minerals play an important role in design of structures of light buildings.…”

Potential of Soil Stabilization Using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) and Fly Ash via Geopolymerization Method: A Review

“…Low-strength soil layers are frequently encountered in road construction, and they have a significant impact on various phases of construction design [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Another issue in civil engineering is clayey soil [ 4 , 5 ]. Clayey soil is a global issue, causing several difficulties for civil engineers, building enterprises, and property owners [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”