A REVIEW OF ENGINEERING EXPERIENCES WITH EXPANSIVE SOILS IN HIGHWAY SUBGRADES

Volume change resulting from moisture variations in expansive soil subgrades is estimated to cause damage to streets and highways in excess of $1.1 billion annually in the United States. Expansive soils are so extensive that rerouting highways to avoid the material is virtually impossible. This report presents the results of a review of current literature combined with details of experiences of selected state highway agencies on procedures for coping with problems associated with expansive soil subgrades. The report discusses the geologic, mineralogic, physical, and physicochemical properties which influence the volume change characteristics of expansive soils. Currently used techniques for sampling, identifying, and testing expansive materials are reviewed and discussed. Treatment alternatives for the prevention or reduction of detrimental volume change of expansive soil subgrades beneath new and existing pavements are presented and discussed.

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• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/58204
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station

  Soil Mechanics Division
  Vicksburg, MS  United States  39180

  Federal Highway Administration

  Engineering Research and Development Bureau, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Snethen, D R
  • Townsend, F C
  • Johnson, L D
  • Patrick, D M
  • Vedros, P J
• Publication Date: 1975-6

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 139 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Geology; Liquefaction; Loss and damage; Mineralogy; Moisture content; Pavement subgrade; Physical properties; Physicochemical properties; Railroad tracks; Sampling; Soil stabilization; Soil tests; Soils; Swelling soils; Testing; Volume changes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Subgrade stability
• Old TRIS Terms: Geology (Soils); Subgrade treatments
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00094027
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-75- 48, FCP-34D1-132
• Files: NTIS, NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 10 1976 12:00AM