STABILIZATION OF EXPANSIVE CLAY SOILS

Natural hazards cause billions of dollars of damage to transportation facilities each year--only flooding causes more damage than expansive soils. Nearly all types of transportation facilities have been affected by expansive soil behavior and, as a result, many have failed or are no longer serviceable. It is imperative that the damage caused by expansive soils be controlled, and proper application of soil stabilization methods can significantly reduce the damage that results from these problem soils. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the phenomena associated with stabilizing these soils, their behavioral patterns that affect stabilization, and the initial and remedial stabilization methods that can be applied to them. The factors considered include conditions requiring and allowing stabilization, changes of properties with time, the effects of stress history and desiccation, the influence of climate, and the effects of physicochemical environments. Effects that can be improved by stabilization are pinpointed. Stabilization methods are described that improve selected properties of expansive soils by mechanical and chemical means. Well-established methods are discussed along with those that are very promising. Examples of remedial treatments are discussed. It is concluded that there is a need for analyses of all alternatives and for stabilization during construction rather than costly remedial projects. Research needs are outlined that can improve our understanding of the stabilization requirements of these problem soils.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1989/1219/1219-010.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=STABILIZATION+OF+EXPANSIVE+CLAY+SOILS&author=T.+Petry&author=J.+Armstrong&publication_year=1989
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/030904815X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1219, Geotechnical Engineering 1989. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Petry, Thomas M
  • Armstrong, J Clyde
• Publication Date: 1989

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 103-112
• Monograph Title: Geotechnical engineering 1989
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1219
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Climate; Desiccation; Expansive clays; Physicochemical properties; Properties of materials; Research; Soil stabilization; Soils
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soil properties; Treatment
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Materials; Research; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00494770
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030904815X
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 30 1990 12:00AM