Volumetric behavior of natural swelling soil on drying-wetting paths. Application to the Boumagueur marl -Algeria-

Abstract

This article presents the results of experimental work carried out both in situ (coring; pressuremeter test) and in the laboratory (drying-wetting and oedometric tests) to describe the volumetric behavior on drying-wetting path of a swelling clayey soil of eastern Algeria. In order to perform drying-wetting tests the osmotic technique and saturated salts solutions were used. These suction-imposed methods have gained widespread acceptance as reliable methods for imposing suction on soil specimens. They allowed to sweep a wide range of suctions between 0 and 500 MPa. The ability to impose suction on soil specimens allows for drying and wetting stress paths to be applied to evaluate resulting changes in state parameters (void ratio, degree of saturation and water content). These paths were carried out on specimens with different initial states. Slurries of soil were used to characterize the reference behavior, while the undisturbed soil samples allow to describe the behavior of material under in situ conditions. In the last part of this article and to specify the behavior observed in the saturated domain, a comparison between the resulting deformations of the drying-wetting test and those resulting from the oedometric test was made.

Parametric Study of a Soil Erosion Control Technique: Concrete Lozenges Channels

“…This sensitivity is mainly reflected by a significant volumetric instability [28], a strong reduction of friction and effective cohesion [29], and a low permeability [30], preventing water absorption and promoting very strong runoff. These characteristics give this type of soil a propensity to shrinkage-swelling [28], a significant progressive creep [31] along the slopes and a risk of erosion around runoff areas [32]. The Table 3 below presents a summary of the type, composition and physical properties of the soils.…”