An extension of the Thornthwaite Moisture Index for geotechnical engineering purposes
The Thornthwaite Moisture Index (TMI) was first published in 1948 as a means of classifying climate for agricultural purposes in the United States of America. Since then the TMI has been adapted by civil engineers and incorporated into design standards such as, AS2870 Residential Slabs and Footings. The response of structures and utilities placed near the ground surface such as foundations of light structures, buried pipes and road pavements, is determined by the soil properties and climatic interaction, or change in moisture content of soil in the reactive zone. The importance of the climate on civil buried structures is becoming increasingly important as evidence of climate change further emerges. This paper highlights the deficiencies of using the TMI as a quantitative measure of climate in civil design. It presents an extension of the TMI climate classification to take into account seasonality and the effect this may have on pavements, structures and utilities founded within the reactive zone. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E216246.
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Authors:
- MATACIN, T
- KODIKARA, J
- Publication Date: 2007-10
Language
- English
Media Info
- Pagination: 6P
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Serial:
- AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE ON GEOMECHANICS, 10TH, 2007, BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
- Publisher: Australian Geomechanics Society
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Base course (Pavements); Climate; Conferences; Foundations; Moisture content; Pavement design; Pipe; Soil mechanics; Soils
- ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 3377: Foundation; 5920: Moisture content; 3055: Pavement design; 3361: Pipe; 2961: Roadbase; 4156: Soil; 5755: Soil mechanics; 2545: Weather
- Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I42: Soil Mechanics;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01099921
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: TRL
- Files: ITRD, ATRI
- Created Date: May 27 2008 9:01AM