SEASONAL HEAVE OF CLAY SOILS

Design of lightly loaded structures and services in clay soils which exhibit significant volume change potential can require knowledge of the maximum seasonal differential soil movement, or seasonal heave in the open. Design methods are available which use seasonal heave as an indicator of potential movement below footings. Seasonal heave is affected by a multitude of factors which can be generalized into in-situ soil properties and site conditions, and environmental factors introduced by the development proposed. In this paper, the importance of these factors are highlighted by a comparison of long term seasonal heave records at a number of instrumented sites in the Melbourne area. The methods of seasonal heave prediction available to the design engineer are then classified according to their approach. They are also critically reviewed in the light of the aforementioned factors. Finally, an evaluation of some of these prediction methods is presented for two Melbourne sites where extensive laboratory and field studies of the clays have been conducted in conjunction with long term seasonal heave measurements. It is concluded that the empirical prediction methods are generally inadequate, and that for design purposes, Richard's simple relationship between seasonal heave and moisture content (or suction), or swell testing in conventional consolidometers incorporating a moisture correction factor, appear to provide the most reliable prediction (A). (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08190259
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Engineers

  11 National Circuit
  Barton, A.C.T.,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Holland, J E
  • Cameron, D A
• Publication Date: 1981-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 55-67
• Serial:
  • Institution of Engineers (Australia) Civ Eng Trans
  • Volume: CE23
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Institution of Engineers
  • ISSN: 0819-0259

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay; Clay soils; Design; Empirical methods; Evaluation and assessment; Footings; Forecasting; Methodology; Moisture content; Oedometers; Seasons; Soil suction; Soils; Swelling; Swelling soils; Volume changes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Heaving; Seasonal variations
• Old TRIS Terms: Heave; Soil swell
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00342215
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 22 1981 12:00AM